-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, EYVm19IUgd6L0Jn+t4WS3iXCKSJ6qMlaIdLJluc99IZGAluJfOfX/+GpqtgYrMkr 45UjlxqBzH4tXpcD53kSpA== 0000950123-97-004961.txt : 19970613 0000950123-97-004961.hdr.sgml : 19970613 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950123-97-004961 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 REFERENCES 429: 033-62395 FILED AS OF DATE: 19970612 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: VORNADO REALTY TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000899689 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 221657560 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-29013 FILM NUMBER: 97622727 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: PARK 80 WEST STREET 2: PLAZA II CITY: SADDLE BROOK STATE: NJ ZIP: 07663 BUSINESS PHONE: 2015871000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PARK 80 WEST PLAZA II CITY: SADDLE BROOK STATE: NJ ZIP: 07663 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: VORNADO REALTY LP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001040765 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-29013-01 FILM NUMBER: 97622728 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: PARK 80 WEST STREET 2: PLAZA II CITY: SADDLE BROOK STATE: NJ ZIP: 07663 BUSINESS PHONE: 2015871000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PARK 80 WEST PLAZA II CITY: SADDLE BROOK STATE: NJ ZIP: 07663 S-3 1 FORM S-3 1 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 12, 1997 Registration No. 333- ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ----------------------------- FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 33-62395 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 -------------- VORNADO REALTY TRUST AND VORNADO REALTY L.P. (Exact name of registrants as specified in their charters) MARYLAND 22-1657560 DELAWARE 22-3506990 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (IRS employer identification number)
PARK 80 WEST, PLAZA II, JOSEPH MACNOW Copies to: SADDLE BROOK, NEW JERSEY 07663 PARK 80 WEST, PLAZA II, PATRICIA A. CERUZZI, ESQ. (201) 587-1000 SADDLE BROOK, NEW JERSEY 07663 JANET T. GELDZAHLER, ESQ. (Address, including zip code, and telephone (201) 587-1000 SULLIVAN & CROMWELL number, including area code, of registrants' (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone 125 BROAD STREET principal executive offices) number, including area code, of agent for service) NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement as determined by market conditions. If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. / / If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/ If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / / ______________ If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / / ______________ If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. / / ------------------------------------ CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=============================================================================================================================== PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF AMOUNT TO BE AGGREGATE PRICE MAXIMUM AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED(1) PER UNIT OFFERING PRICE(1)(2) REGISTRATION FEE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Shares (par value $.04 per share)(3) Preferred Shares (no par value per share)(4) Depositary Shares representing Preferred Shares(5) $1,614,000,000(6) (7) $1,614,000,000(6)(8) $489,090.91(9) Debt Securities(10) Debt Warrants(11) ===============================================================================================================================
2 (1) In U.S. Dollars or the equivalent thereof denominated in one or more foreign currencies or units or two or more foreign currencies or composite currencies (such as European Currency Units). (2) Estimated for the sole purpose of computing the registration fee. (3) There are being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of Common Shares of Beneficial Interest of Vornado Realty Trust as may be sold, from time to time, by Vornado Realty Trust. There are also being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of Common Shares of Beneficial Interest of Vornado Realty Trust as shall be issuable upon conversion of Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest of Vornado Realty Trust registered hereby. (4) There are being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest of Vornado Realty Trust as may be sold, from time to time, by Vornado Realty Trust. (5) There are being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of Depositary Shares to be evidenced by Depositary Receipts issued pursuant to a Deposit Agreement. In the event Vornado Realty Trust elects to offer to the public fractional interests in Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest registered hereunder, Depositary Receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests and Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest will be issued to the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement. No separate consideration will be received for the Depositary Shares. (6) Such amount represents the principal amount of any Debt Securities issued at their principal amount, the issue price rather than the principal amount of any Debt Securities issued at an original issue discount, the liquidation preference of any Preferred Shares, the amount computed pursuant to Rule 457(c) for any Common Shares, the issue price of any Debt Warrants and the exercise price of any Debt Securities issuable upon the exercise of Debt Warrants. (7) Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). (8) No separate consideration will be received for Common Shares as may from time to time be issued upon conversion of Preferred Shares. (9) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act, in respect of the $1,614,000,000 of previously unregistered securities registered hereby. An additional filing fee of $46,896.55 was previously paid for $136,000,000 aggregate principal amount of unsold securities registered under Registration Statement No. 33-62395. (10) There are being registered hereunder an indeterminate amount of Debt Securities of Vornado Realty L.P. (11) Debt Warrants may be sold separately or with Debt Securities. ------------------------------------ PURSUANT TO RULE 429 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT INCLUDES A PROSPECTUS WHICH MAY RELATE TO SECURITIES REGISTERED BY THE COMPANY ON FORM S-3 (REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 33-62395). THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT, WHICH IS A NEW REGISTRATION STATEMENT, ALSO CONSTITUTES A POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 33-62395. SUCH POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT SHALL HEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE CONCURRENTLY WITH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(c) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE. ================================================================================ 3 Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED JUNE 12, 1997 Prospectus $750,000,000 VORNADO REALTY TRUST PREFERRED SHARES, DEPOSITARY SHARES AND COMMON SHARES $1,000,000,000 VORNADO REALTY L.P. DEBT SECURITIES AND DEBT WARRANTS ------------------------------------ Vornado Realty Trust (the "Company") may offer from time to time, together or separately, in one or more series (i) preferred shares of beneficial interest of the Company, no par value ("Preferred Shares"), (ii) depositary shares representing entitlement to all rights and preferences of a fraction of a Preferred Share of a specified series and represented by depositary receipts ("Depositary Shares") and (iii) common shares of beneficial interest of the Company, par value $0.04 per share ("Common Shares"), having an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed U.S. $750,000,000. Vornado Realty L.P. (the "Operating Partnership") may offer from time to time, together or separately, in one or more series (i) debt securities ("Debt Securities"), which may be either senior debt securities (the "Senior Debt Securities") or subordinated debt securities (the "Subordinated Debt Securities") and (ii) warrants to purchase debt securities of the Operating Partnership as shall be designated by the Operating Partnership at the time of the offering (the "Debt Warrants"), having an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed U.S. $1,000,000,000. The Preferred Shares, Depositary Shares, Common Shares, Debt Securities and Debt Warrants offered hereby (collectively, the "Securities") may be offered separately or together, in separate series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus (a "Prospectus Supplement"). The accompanying Prospectus Supplement will set forth with regard to the particular Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered (i) in the case of Debt Securities, the title, aggregate principal amount, denominations (which may be in United States dollars, or in any other currency, currencies or currency unit, including the European Currency Unit), maturity, rate, if any (which may be fixed or variable), or method of calculation thereof, time of payment of any interest, any terms for redemption at the option of the Operating Partnership or the holder, any terms for sinking fund payments, rank, any exchange rights, any listing on a securities exchange, and the initial public offering price and any other terms in connection with the offering and sale of such Debt Securities, (ii) in the case of Preferred Shares, the specific title, the aggregate amount and the stated value, any dividend (including the method of calculating the payment of dividend), liquidation, redemption, conversion, voting or other rights and the initial offering price, (iii) in the case of Common Shares, the number of Common Shares, the initial offering price and the terms of the offering thereof and (iv) in the case of Debt Warrants, the duration, purchase price, exercise price and detachability of such Debt Warrants. The Prospectus Supplement will also contain, as applicable, a discussion of the material United States Federal income tax considerations relating to the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered to the extent not contained herein. The Company's Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "VNO". The Company's $3.25 Series A Convertible Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, liquidation preference $50.00 per share (the "Series A Preferred Shares"), are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "VNO Pr A". The Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, where applicable, as to any listing on a securities exchange of the Securities covered by such Prospectus Supplement. ------------------------------------ SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 3 FOR CERTAIN FACTORS RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES. ------------------------------------ THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. ------------------------------------ The Company and the Operating Partnership may sell Securities to or through underwriters, and also may sell Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents. The accompanying Prospectus Supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters or agents involved in the sale of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered, the amounts of Securities, if any, to be purchased by underwriters and the compensation, if any, of such underwriters or agents. See "Plan of Distribution" herein. The date of this Prospectus is , 1997. 4 NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP OR ANY UNDERWRITERS, AGENTS OR DEALERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AT ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF. All references to the "Company" and "Vornado" in this prospectus shall be deemed to include Vornado Realty Trust and its subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership, unless the context requires otherwise. AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is and the Operating Partnership will be subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith the Company files and the Operating Partnership will file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company and the Operating Partnership with the Commission can be inspected and copied at the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following regional offices of the Commission: 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such information can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission maintains a web site on the World Wide Web that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information on registrants, such as the Company and the Operating Partnership, that must file such material with the Commission electronically. The Commission's address on the world wide web is "http://www.sec.gov". The Company's Common Shares and Series A Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE and similar information can be inspected and copied at the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10005. This Prospectus constitutes a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") filed by the Company and the Operating Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and related exhibits for further information with respect to the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Securities offered hereby. Statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any documents filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such document so filed. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents filed by the Company and the Operating Partnership with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act are hereby incorporated by reference into this Prospectus: (1) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996; (2) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1997; 2 5 (3) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 12, 1997, as amended by Form 8-K/A, dated March 12, 1997 and filed with the Commission on April 1, 1997, and the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K, dated April 3, 1997, April 15, 1997 and May 7, 1997; (4) the description of the Company's Series A Preferred Shares contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on April 3, 1997; and (5) the Operating Partnership's Registration Statement on Form 10, filed with the Commission on June 11, 1997. All other documents and reports filed with the Commission by the Company or the Operating Partnership pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and shall be deemed to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such reports and documents (provided, however, that the information referred to in item 402(a)(8) of Regulation S-K of the Commission shall not be deemed specifically incorporated by reference herein). Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. The Company and the Operating Partnership will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this Prospectus is delivered, on written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all documents which are incorporated herein by reference (not including the exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in the document which this Prospectus incorporates). Requests should be directed to the Secretary of the Company, Park 80 West, Plaza II, Saddle Brook, New Jersey 07663, telephone number (201) 587-1000. RISK FACTORS Prospective investors should carefully consider, among other factors, the matters described below. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS General Real property investments are subject to varying degrees of risk. Real estate values are affected by changes in the general economic climate, local conditions such as an oversupply of or a reduction in demand for real estate in the area, the attractiveness of the Company's properties to tenants, the quality, philosophy and performance of management, competition from comparable properties, inability to collect rent from tenants, the effects of any bankruptcies of major tenants, changes in market rental rates, the need to periodically repair, renovate and rent space and to pay the costs thereof (including, without limitation, substantial tenant improvement and leasing costs of re-leasing office space), and increases in operating costs due to inflation and other factors (including increased real estate taxes), which increases may not necessarily be passed through fully to tenants. Real estate values are also affected by such factors as government regulations and changes in zoning or tax laws, interest rate levels, the availability of financing and potential liability under environmental and other laws. 3 6 Dependence on Tenants The Company's results of operations will depend on its ability to continue to lease space in its real estate properties on economically favorable terms. In addition, as substantially all of the Company's income is derived from rentals of real property, the Company's income and funds available for distribution would be adversely affected if a significant number of the Company's lessees were unable to meet their obligations to the Company. In the event of default by a lessee, the Company may experience delays in enforcing its rights as lessor and may incur substantial costs in protecting its investment. Currently only one of the Company's tenants, Bradlees, Inc. ("Bradlees"), represents more than 3% of the Company's pro forma revenues. Bradlees accounted for approximately 10.5% of pro forma property rentals for the year ended December 31, 1996. Bankruptcy of Tenants There have been a number of recent bankruptcies in the retail industry, including certain tenants of the Company. The bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant may have a material adverse effect on the shopping centers affected and the income produced by such properties. The Company's leases generally do not contain restrictions designed to ensure the creditworthiness of the tenant. In June 1995, Bradlees filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Company currently leases 17 locations to Bradlees. Of these locations, 14 are fully guaranteed by Stop & Shop Companies, Inc. ("Stop & Shop"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Ahold NV, a leading international food retailer, and one is guaranteed as to 70% of the rent. During 1996, Bradlees rejected three leases and assigned one lease to Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. These four leases are fully guaranteed by Stop & Shop. In January 1997, Bradlees received bankruptcy court approval to close one of the two stores in which leases are not guaranteed by Stop & Shop. Montgomery Ward & Co., Inc. (a previous lessee) remains liable on eight of the leases guaranteed by Stop & Shop, including the rent it was obligated to pay -- approximately 70% of current rent. Acquisition and Development Risks The Company may acquire or develop properties or acquire other real estate companies when it believes that an acquisition or development is consistent with its business strategies. In addition, the Company anticipates that, in certain circumstances, it may use Operating Partnership units ("Units") as consideration for acquisitions from tax-sensitive sellers and, in connection with such acquisitions, it may agree to certain restrictions on the Company's ability to sell, or reduce the mortgage indebtedness on, such acquired assets, including agreeing not to sell properties for significant periods of time. These transactions may increase the Company's indebtedness as a percentage of asset value or market capitalization, which may impair the ability of the Company to take actions that would otherwise be in the best interests of limited partners or shareholders. Illiquidity of Assets; Restrictions on Dispositions of Mortgaged Properties Equity real estate investments are relatively illiquid and therefore tend to limit the ability of the Company to vary its portfolio promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions. In addition, certain significant expenditures associated with each equity investment (such as mortgage payments, real estate taxes and maintenance costs) are generally not reduced when circumstances cause a reduction in income from the investment. Should such events occur, the Company's income and funds for distribution would be adversely affected. A portion of the Company's properties are mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness, and if the Company were unable to meet its mortgage payments, a loss could be sustained as a result of foreclosure on the properties by the mortgagee. In addition, if it becomes necessary or desirable for the Company to dispose of one or more of the mortgaged properties, the Company might not be able to obtain release of the lien on such mortgaged property. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources" and the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1996, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference for information regarding the terms of the mortgages encumbering the Company's properties. 4 7 POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST; RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Interstate Properties, a New Jersey general partnership ("Interstate"), owns 21.9% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company (assuming conversion of all Operating Partnership Units) and Units of the Operating Partnership. Steven Roth, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is the managing general partner of Interstate. Mr. Roth, David Mandelbaum and Russell B. Wight, Jr. are the three partners of Interstate. Messrs. Roth, Mandelbaum and Wight and Interstate own, in the aggregate, 26.2% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company and Units of the Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 1996, the Company owned 29.3% of the outstanding common stock of Alexander's Inc. ("Alexander's"), a New York corporation. Interstate owns an additional 27.1% of the outstanding common stock of Alexander's as of such date. Mr. Roth, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Fascitelli, the Company's President, are directors of Alexander's. Messrs. Mandelbaum, West and Wight, members of the Company's Board of Trustees, are also members of the Board of Directors of Alexander's. Because of the foregoing, Mr. Roth and Interstate may have substantial influence on the Company and on the outcome of any matters submitted to the Company's stockholders for approval. In addition, certain decisions concerning the operations or financial structure of the Company may present conflicts of interest between Messrs. Roth, Mandelbaum and Wight and Interstate and the Company's other shareholders. In addition, Mr. Roth and Interstate engage in a wide variety of activities in the real estate business which may result in conflicts of interest with respect to certain matters affecting the Company or Alexander's, such as potential business opportunities, business dealings, demands on the time of Mr. Roth and certain of the executive officers of the Company and changes of existing arrangements between Mr. Roth, the Company and Interstate, potential competition between business activities conducted, or sought to be conducted, by the Company, Interstate and Alexander's (including competition for properties and tenants), possible corporate transactions and other strategic decisions affecting the future of such parties. Bernard Mendik, the Company's co-chairman, owns direct and indirect managing general partner interests in two properties (Two Park Avenue and 330 Madison Avenue) in which the Company owns a partial interest, direct and indirect interests in numerous additional office properties and other real estate assets, and interests in certain property services businesses, including in businesses which provide cleaning and related services, security services and facilities management services, which interests may give rise to certain conflicts of interest concerning the fulfillment of Mr. Mendik's responsibility as a trustee of the Company. The Mendik Group (the "Mendik Group", as used herein, Bernard H. Mendik, David R. Greenbaum and certain entities controlled by them) owns an entity which provides cleaning and related services and security services to office properties. The Company has entered into contracts with the Mendik Group to provide such services to the certain office properties in which the Company owns a 100% interest. Although the Company believes that the terms and conditions of the contracts pursuant to which these services will be provided, taken as a whole, will not be less favorable to the Company than those which could have been obtained from a third party providing comparable services, there can be no assurance to this effect. Alexander's Management and Development Agreement Pursuant to a Management and Development Agreement (the "Management Agreement") between the Company and Alexander's, the Company has agreed to manage Alexander's business affairs and manage and develop Alexander's properties for an annual fee. The Management Agreement was assigned by the Company to Vornado Management Corp. ("VMC"), a New Jersey corporation. The Company owns 100% of the outstanding shares of preferred stock of VMC (which entitles the Company to 95% of the economic benefits of VMC through distributions), and Messrs. Roth and West own 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of VMC. The Company also acts as a leasing agent for Alexander's properties on a fee basis under a leasing agreement. In addition, the Company lent Alexander's $45 million, the subordinated tranche of a $75 million secured financing, the balance of which was funded by a bank. None 5 8 of Mr. Roth, Interstate or Vornado is obligated to present to Alexander's any particular investment opportunity which comes to his or its attention, even if such opportunity is of a character which might be suitable for investment by Alexander's. Leasing Services Provided to Other Properties The Mendik Management Company Inc. (the "Management Corporation") (which is controlled by Messrs. Mendik, Greenbaum and Fascitelli and not by the Company) provides management and leasing services to properties in which the Company owns less than a 100% interest as well as to other office properties (including several properties in which the Mendik Group has an interest). Certain conflicts of interest may result from the Management Corporation providing leasing services both to properties in which the Company has an interest and other properties in which the Mendik Group has an interest. CORPORATE STRUCTURE; LEVERAGE The Company is a real estate investment trust formed under Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland ("Title 8"). Substantially all of the Company's properties are owned by subsidiaries and, accordingly, securities issued by the Company will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries, including indebtedness of or guaranteed by such subsidiaries. As of June 11, 1997, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had aggregate indebtedness outstanding of approximately $863 million, of which $ 463 million is secured by Company properties. Any right of the Company to participate in any distribution of the assets of any of the Company's subsidiaries upon the liquidation, reorganization or insolvency of such subsidiary (and any consequent right of the Company's securityholders to participate in those assets) will be subject to the claims of the creditors (including trade creditors) and preferred stockholders, if any, of such subsidiary, except to the extent the Company has a claim against such subsidiary as a creditor of such subsidiary. In addition, in the event that claims of the Company as a creditor of a subsidiary are recognized, such claims would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of such subsidiary and any indebtedness of such subsidiary senior to that held by the Company. The Company's ability to make required principal and interest payments with respect to indebtedness, including any Debt Securities, depends on the earnings of its subsidiaries and on its ability to receive funds from such subsidiaries through dividends or other payments. Since the Securities are obligations of the Company only, the Company's subsidiaries are not obligated or required to pay any amounts due pursuant to the Securities or to make funds available therefor in the form of dividends or advances to the Company. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS Under various Federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be required to investigate and clean up certain hazardous substances released at a property, and may be held liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for property damage or personal injuries and for investigation and clean-up costs incurred by the parties in connection with the contamination. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances. The presence of contamination or the failure to remediate contamination may adversely affect the owner's ability to sell or lease real estate or to borrow using the real estate as collateral. Other Federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations require abatement or removal of certain asbestos-containing materials in the event of demolition or certain renovations or remodeling and also govern emissions of and exposure to asbestos fibers in the air. The operation and subsequent removal of certain underground storage tanks are also regulated by Federal and state laws. In connection with the ownership, operation and management of its properties, the Company could be held liable for the costs of remedial action with respect to such regulated substances or tanks or related claims. 6 9 Each of the Company's properties has been subjected to varying degrees of environmental assessment, which generally did not include soil sampling or subsurface investigations, at various times. The environmental assessments did not reveal any environmental condition or liability that the Company believes will have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, assets or results of operation. However, there can be no assurance that the identification of new areas of contamination, change in the extent or known scope of contamination, the discovery of additional sites, or changes in cleanup requirements would not result in significant costs to the Company. COMPETITION The leasing of real estate is highly competitive. The principal means of competition are rent charged, location, services provided and the nature and condition of the facility to be leased. The Company directly competes with all lessors and developers of similar space in the areas in which its properties are located. Demand for retail space has been impacted by the recent bankruptcy of a number of retail companies and a general trend toward consolidation in the retail industry which could adversely affect the ability of the Company to attract and retain tenants. DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL The Company is dependent on the efforts of certain of its executive officers. While the Company believes that it could find replacements for these key personnel, the loss of their services could have a temporary adverse effect on the operations of the Company. CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE TO QUALIFY OR REMAIN QUALIFIED AS A REIT Although the Company's management believes that the Company will remain organized and will continue to operate so as to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for Federal income tax purposes, no assurance can be given that it will remain so qualified. Qualification as a REIT for Federal income tax purposes involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") for which there are only limited judicial or administrative interpretations, and the determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within the control of the Company may impact its ability to qualify as a REIT. In addition, no assurance can be given that legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions will not significantly change the tax laws with respect to the requirements for qualification as a REIT or the Federal income tax consequences of such qualification. The Company, however, is not aware of any proposal to amend the tax laws that would significantly and adversely affect its ability to operate in such a manner as to qualify as a REIT. If, with respect to any taxable year, the Company fails to qualify as a REIT, it would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to shareholders in computing its taxable income and would be subject to Federal income tax (including any applicable alterative minimum tax) on its taxable income at regular corporate rates. As a result, the amount available for distribution to shareholders would be reduced for the year or years involved, and distributions would no longer be required to be made. In addition, unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, the Company would also be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. Notwithstanding that the Company currently intends to operate in a manner designed to allow it to qualify as a REIT, future economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations may cause it to determine that it is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders to revoke the REIT election. THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP The Company is a fully-integrated real estate investment trust organized under the laws of the state of Maryland. In April 1997, the Company organized an Operating Partnership as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware and transferred substantially all of its assets to the Operating Partnership. 7 10 As a result, the Company now conducts its business through, and substantially all of its interests in properties are held by, the Operating Partnership, in which it is the sole general partner and in which it owns an approximately 90% limited partnership interest as of June 11, 1997. The Operating Partnership currently owns: (i) 58 shopping center properties in seven states and Puerto Rico containing 10.5 million square feet, including 1.2 million square feet built by tenants on land leased from the Company; (ii) all or portions of nine office building properties in the New York City metropolitan area (primarily Manhattan) containing 4.2 million square feet; (iii) eight warehouse/industrial properties in New Jersey containing 2.0 million square feet; and (iv) approximately 29.3% of the outstanding common stock of Alexander's, Inc., which has nine properties in the New York City metropolitan area. As of June 11, 1997, the Company's and the Operating Partnership's total consolidated outstanding debt were approximately $863 million, of which $463 million is secured by Company properties, and their total consolidated debt plus their proportionate share of total unconsolidated debt were approximately $975 million, of which $575 million is secured by Company properties. The executive offices of the Company and the Operating Partnership are located at Park 80 West, Plaza II, Saddle Brook, N.J. 07663; telephone (201) 587-1000. USE OF PROCEEDS The Company is required by the terms of the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership to invest the net proceeds of any sale of Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Depositary Shares in the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional Units or preferred Units, as the case may be. As will be more fully described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company and the Operating Partnership intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of Securities for general corporate purposes or such other uses as may be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. 8 11 CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED SHARE DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS For purposes of calculating the following ratios, (i) earnings represent income from continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges, and (ii) fixed charges represent interest expense on all indebtedness (including amortization of deferred debt issuance costs) and the portion of operating lease rental expense that is representative of the interest factor (deemed to be one-third of operating lease rentals). There were no preferred shares outstanding during any of the periods indicated below and therefore the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been the same as the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividend requirements for each period indicated. The historical ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividend requirements set forth below are the same for both the Company and the Operating Partnership.
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, --------- ---------------------------------------------- 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Share Dividend Requirements.............................. 3.29 4.56 4.06 3.54 1.80 1.07
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The particular terms of each series of Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements will be described therein. The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture (the "Senior Indenture") between the Operating Partnership and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Senior Trustee"), a copy of the form of which Senior Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under a separate Indenture (the "Subordinated Indenture") between the Operating Partnership and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Subordinated Trustee"), a copy of the form of which Subordinated Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are sometimes referred to collectively as the "Indentures" and the Senior Trustee and Subordinated Trustee are sometimes referred to collectively as the "Trustees." The following summaries of certain provisions of the Senior Debt Securities, the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture, as modified or superseded by any applicable Prospectus Supplement, are brief summaries of certain provisions thereof, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all the provisions of the Indenture applicable to a particular series of Debt Securities. Wherever particular Sections, Articles or defined terms of the Indentures are referred to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement, such Sections, Articles or defined terms are incorporated herein or therein by reference. GENERAL Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Securities will be general unsecured obligations of the Operating Partnership. The Indentures do not limit the aggregate amount of Debt Securities which may be issued thereunder, and Debt Securities may be issued thereunder from time to time in separate series up to the aggregate amount from time to time authorized by the Operating Partnership for each series. Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Senior Debt Securities when issued will be unsubordinated obligations of the Operating Partnership and will rank 9 12 equally and ratably with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Operating Partnership. The Subordinated Debt Securities when issued will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt (as defined in the Subordinated Indenture) of the Operating Partnership as described below under "--Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities" and in the Prospectus Supplement applicable to an offering of Subordinated Debt Securities. The applicable Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements will describe the following terms of the series of Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered: (1) the title of such Debt Securities; (2) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Debt Securities; (3) the person to whom any interest on any Debt Security of the series shall be payable if other than the person in whose name the Debt Security is registered on the regular record date; (4) the date or dates on which such Debt Securities will mature; (5) the rate or rates of interest, if any, or the method of calculation thereof, which such Debt Securities will bear, the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which any such interest on such Debt Securities will be payable and the regular record date for any interest payable on any interest payment date; (6) the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debt Securities will be payable; (7) the period or periods within which, the events upon the occurrence of which, and the price or prices at which, such Debt Securities may, pursuant to any optional or mandatory provisions, be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, by the Operating Partnership and any terms and conditions relevant thereto; (8) the obligations of the Operating Partnership, if any, to redeem or repurchase such Debt Securities at the option of the Holders; (9) the denominations in which any such Debt Securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; (10) any index or formula used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities; (11) the currency, currencies or currency unit or units of payment of principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities if other than U.S. dollars; (12) if the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Debt Securities is to be payable, at the election of the Operating Partnership or a holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Debt Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on Debt Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made; (13) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of such Debt Securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof; (14) if the principal amount of any Debt Securities which will be payable at the maturity thereof will not be determinable as of any date prior to such maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be the outstanding principal amount of such Debt Securities; (15) the applicability of any provisions described under "Defeasance"; (16) whether any of such Debt Securities are to be issuable in permanent global form ("Global Security") and, if so, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in such Debt Securities in global form may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby; (17) the applicability of any provisions described under "Event of Default" and any additional Event of Default applicable thereto; (18) any covenants applicable to such Debt Securities; (19) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Debt Securities are exchangeable into Common Shares of the Company; and (20) any other terms of such Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indentures. (Section 301) Debt Securities may also be issued under the Indentures upon the exercise of Debt Warrants. See "Description of Debt Warrants." Debt Securities may be issued at a discount from their principal amount. United States Federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any such original issue discount Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If the purchase price of any of the Debt Securities is denominated in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of Debt Securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, the restrictions, elections, general Federal income tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to such issue of Debt Securities will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. 10 13 The Indentures do not contain any provisions that limit the Operating Partnership's ability to incur indebtedness. Except as may be indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities, Holders of Debt Securities will not have the benefit of any specific covenants or provisions in the applicable Indenture or Debt Securities that would protect them in the event the Operating Partnership engages in or becomes the subject of a highly leveraged transaction and the limitations on mergers, consolidations and transfers of substantially all of the Operating Partnership's properties and assets as an entirety to any person as described below under "--Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets." Such covenants may not be waived or modified by the Operating Partnership, although Holders of Debt Securities could waive or modify such covenants as more fully described below under "--Modification and Waiver." The applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect to any particular series of Debt Securities that provide for the optional redemption or prepayment of such Debt Securities upon the occurrence of certain events (i.e., a change of control) will describe the following: (1) the effects that such provisions may have in deterring certain mergers, tender offers or other takeover attempts, as well as that there may be possible adverse effects on the market price of the Operating Partnership's securities or ability to obtain financing; (2) that the Operating Partnership will comply with the requirements of applicable securities laws, including Rules 14e-1 and 13e-4 under the Exchange Act, in connection with such provisions and any related offers by the Operating Partnership; (3) whether the occurrence of the specified events may give rise to cross-defaults on other indebtedness such that payment on the offered Debt Securities may be effectively subordinated; (4) limitations on the Operating Partnership's financial or legal ability to repurchase the offered Debt Securities upon the triggering of an event risk provision requiring such a repurchase or offer to repurchase; (5) the impact, if any, under the governing instrument of the failure to repurchase, including whether such failure to make any required repurchases in the event of a change of control will create an event of default with respect to the offered Debt Securities or will become an event of default only after the continuation of such failure for a specified period of time after written notice is given to the Operating partnership by the Trustee or to the Operating Partnership and the Trustee by the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the debt outstanding; (6) that there can be no assurance that sufficient funds will be available at the time of the triggering of an event risk provision to make any required repurchases; (7) if such offered Debt Securities are to be subordinated to other obligations of the Operating Partnership or its subsidiaries that would be accelerated upon the triggering of a change in control or similar event, the material effect thereof on such acceleration provision and such offered Debt Securities; and (8) to the extent that there is a definition of "change of control" in a supplemental indenture relating to such offered Debt Securities that includes the concept of "all or substantially all," the established meaning of such phrase under New York law. EXCHANGE OF DEBT SECURITIES If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities, such series will be exchangeable into Common Shares of the Company on the terms and conditions set forth therein. Such terms may include provisions pursuant to which the number of Common Shares of the Company to be received by the holders of Debt Securities would be calculated according to the market price of Common Shares of the Company as of a time stated in the Prospectus Supplement. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will indicate certain restrictions on ownership which may apply in the event of an exchange. See "Description of Preferred Shares -- Restrictions on Ownership" and "Description of Common Shares -- Restrictions on Ownership." FORM, REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND PAYMENT Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Securities will be issued only in fully registered form in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof. (Section 302) Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities will be payable, and the exchange and transfer of Debt Securities will be registerable, at the office or agency of the Operating Partnership maintained for such purposes and at any other office or agency maintained for such purpose. (Sections 301, 305 and 1002) No service charge 11 14 will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Debt Securities, but the Operating Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith. (Section 305) All monies paid by the Operating Partnership to a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and any premium or interest on any Debt Security which remain unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable may be repaid to the Operating Partnership and thereafter the Holder of such Debt Security may look only to the Operating Partnership for payment thereof. (Section 1003) BOOK-ENTRY DEBT SECURITIES The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary (the "Global Depositary") or its nominee identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In such a case, one or more Global Securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denomination equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of the series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in registered form, a Global Security may not be registered for transfer except as a whole by the Global Depositary for such Global Security to a nominee of such Global Depositary or by a nominee of such Global Depositary to such Global Depositary or another nominee of such Global Depositary or by such Global Depositary or any nominee to a successor Global Depositary or a nominee of such successor Global Depositary and except in the circumstances described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. (Sections 204 and 305) The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of Debt Securities to be represented by a Global Security will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Operating Partnership expects that the following provisions will apply to depositary arrangements although no assurance can be given that such will be the case. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Debt Securities which are to be represented by a Global Security to be deposited with or on behalf of a Global Depositary will be represented by a Global Security registered in the name of such Global Depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of such Global Security, and the deposit of such Global Security with or on behalf of the Global Depositary for such Global Security, the Global Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the Debt Securities represented by such Global Security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with such Global Depositary or its nominee ("participants"). The accounts to be credited will be designated by the underwriters or agents of such Debt Securities or by the Operating Partnership, if such Debt Securities are offered and sold directly by the Operating Partnership. Ownership of beneficial interest in such Global Security will be limited to participants or Persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests by participants in such Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the Global Depositary or its nominee for such Global Security. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security by Persons that hold through participants will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership interests within such participant will be effected only through, records maintained by such participant. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in certificated form. The foregoing limitations and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in such Global Securities. So long as the Global Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, such Global Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the applicable Indenture. Except as set forth below, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security will not be entitled to have Debt Securities of the series represented by such Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of Debt Securities of such series in certificated form and will not be 12 15 considered the holders thereof for any purposes under the applicable Indenture. (Sections 204 and 305) Accordingly, each Person owning a beneficial interest in such Global Security must rely on the procedures of the Global Depositary and, if such Person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such Person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable Indenture. The Operating Partnership understands that under existing industry practices, if the Operating Partnership requests any action of holders or an owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security desires to give any notice or take any action a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable Indenture, the Global Depositary would authorize the participants to give such notice or take such action, and participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participants to give such notice or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them. If the Global Depositary for Debt Securities of a series is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as Global Depositary and a successor Global Depositary is not appointed by the Operating Partnership within 90 days or an Event of Default under the applicable Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Operating Partnership will issue Debt Securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for the Global Security or Securities representing the Debt Securities of such series. In addition, the Operating Partnership may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, determine not to have any Debt Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue Debt Securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for the Global Security or Securities representing such Debt Securities. Further, if the Operating Partnership so specifies with respect to the Debt Securities of a series, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security representing Debt Securities of such series may, on terms acceptable to the Operating Partnership and the Global Depositary for such Global Security, receive Debt Securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any limitations described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security will be entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of Debt Securities of the series represented by such Global Security equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Debt Securities registered in its name (if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable as registered securities). Principal of and any premium and interest on a Global Security will be payable in the manner described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities, the Operating Partnership will be subject to the covenants described therein. EVENTS OF DEFAULT The following are Events of Default under the Indentures with respect to Debt Securities of any series: (a) failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Security of that series when due; (b) failure to pay any interest on any Debt Security of that series when due, continued for 30 days; (c) failure in the deposit of any sinking fund payment in respect of any Debt Security of that series; (d) failure to perform any other covenant of the Operating Partnership in the Indentures (other than a covenant included in the applicable Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Debt Securities other than that series), continued for 60 days after written notice to the Operating Partnership as provided in the applicable Indenture; (e) the acceleration of, or failure to pay at maturity (including any applicable grace period), any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Operating Partnership with at least [$50,000,000] in principal amount outstanding, which acceleration or failure to pay is not rescinded or annulled or such indebtedness paid, in each case within 10 days after the date on which written notice thereof shall have first been given to the Operating Partnership as provided in the applicable Indenture; (f) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and (g) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series. (Section 501) 13 16 If an Event of Default with respect to Outstanding Debt Securities of any series shall occur and be continuing, either the applicable Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series by notice as provided in the Indentures may declare the principal amount (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. However, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to Debt Securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree based on such acceleration has been obtained, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration. (Section 502) For information as to waiver or defaults, see "--Modification and Waiver" below. The Indentures provide that, subject to the duty of the Trustees thereunder during an Event of Default to act with the required standard of care, such Trustees will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indentures at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders shall have offered to such Trustees reasonable security or indemnity. (Sections 601 and 603) Subject to certain provisions, including those requiring security or indemnification of the Trustees, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustees, or exercising any trust or power conferred on such Trustees, with respect to the Debt Securities of that series. (Section 512) No Holder of a Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indentures or for any remedy thereunder, unless (i) such Holder shall have previously given to the applicable Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default (as defined) with respect to Debt Securities of that series; (ii) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of the same series shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the applicable Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as trustee under the Indenture; (iii) the Trustee shall have failed to institute such proceedings within 60 days; and (iv) the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of the same series a direction inconsistent with such request (Section 507); provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a Debt Security for enforcement of payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Security on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security. (Section 508) The Operating partnership will be required to furnish to the Trustees annually a statement as to the performance by the Operating Partnership of its obligations under the Indentures and as to any default in such performance. (Section 1004) MODIFICATION AND WAIVER Without the consent of any Holder of Outstanding Debt Securities, the Operating Partnership and the applicable Trustee may amend or supplement the applicable Indenture or the Debt Securities to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder of Debt Securities. (Section 901) Other modifications and amendments of the Indentures may be made by the Operating Partnership and the applicable Trustee only with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected thereby; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby: (a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of, or interest on, any Debt Security; (b) reduce the principal amount of, the rate of interest on, or the premium, if any, payable upon the redemption of, any Debt Security; (c) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof; (d) change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Debt Security; (e) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Debt Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date thereof; (f) modify the subordination provisions applicable to any series of Debt Securities in a manner adverse to the holders 14 17 thereof; or (g) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the consent of the Holders of which is required for modification or amendment of the Indentures or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults. (Section 902) The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all Debt Securities of that series waive, insofar as that series is concerned, compliance by the Operating Partnership with certain covenants of the Indentures. (Section 1008) The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may, on behalf of the Holders of all Debt Securities of that series, waive any past default under the applicable Indenture with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security of that series or in respect of a provision which under such applicable Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security of that series affected. (Section 513) CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS The Operating Partnership, without the consent of any Holders of outstanding Debt Securities, may consolidate with or merge into, or transfer or lease its assets substantially as an entirety to, any Person, and any other Person may consolidate with or merge into, or transfer or lease its assets substantially as an entirety to, the Operating Partnership, provided that (a) the Person (if other than the Operating Partnership) formed by such consolidation or into which the Operating Partnership is merged or which acquires or leases the assets of the Operating Partnership substantially as an entirety assumes the Operating Partnership's obligations on the Debt Securities and under the Indenture relating thereto and (b) after giving effect to such transaction no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing. (Article Eight) A Prospectus Supplement may set forth any additional provisions regarding a consolidation with, merger into, or transfer or lease of its assets substantially as an entirety to, any Person (or of such Person with, into or to the Operating Partnership). DEFEASANCE If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Debt Securities of a series, the Operating Partnership, at its option (i) will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Debt Securities of such series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Debt Securities of such series, to replace destroyed, stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities of such series, and to maintain an office or agency in respect of the Debt Securities and hold monies for payment in trust) or (ii) will be released from its obligations to comply with any covenants that may be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the occurrence of an event described in clause (d) under "Events of Default" above with respect to any defeased covenants shall no longer be an Event of Default, if in either case the Operating Partnership irrevocably deposits with the applicable Trustee, in trust, money or U.S. Government Obligations that through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay all of the principal of and premium, if any, and any interest on the Debt Securities of such series on the dates such payments are due (which may include one or more redemption dates designated by the Operating Partnership) in accordance with the terms of such Debt Securities. Such a trust may only be established if, among other things, (a) no Event of Default or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default under the applicable Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, (b) no Event of Default described under clause (e) under "Events of Default" above or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default described under such clause (e) shall have occurred and be continuing at any time during the period ending on the 91st day following such date of deposit, and (c) the Operating Partnership shall have delivered an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Debt Securities will not recognize gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit or defeasance and will be subject to United States Federal income tax in the same manner as if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred, which Opinion of Counsel, in the case of a deposit and defeasance of such Indenture with respect 15 18 to the Debt Securities of any series as described under clause (i) above, shall be based on either (A) a ruling to such effect that the Operating Partnership has received from, or that has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service or (B) a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, occurring after the date of the applicable Indenture, to such effect. In the event the Operating Partnership omits to comply with its remaining obligations under such Indenture after a defeasance of such Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as described under clause (ii) above and the Debt Securities of such series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any undefeased Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations on deposit with the applicable Trustee may be insufficient to pay amounts due on the Debt Securities of such series at the time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. However, the Operating Partnership will remain liable in respect to such payments. (Article Thirteen) SUBORDINATION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the following provisions will apply to the Subordinated Debt Securities. The Subordinated Debt Securities will, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt, including the Senior Debt Securities. Upon any payment or distribution of assets to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, marshalling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency, debt restructuring or similar proceedings in connection with any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding of the Operating Partnership, the holders of Senior Debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Senior Debt before the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities will be entitled to receive or retain any payment in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities. (Article Fifteen of the Subordinated Indenture) By reason of such subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency, creditors of the Operating Partnership who are not holders of Senior Debt or Subordinated Debt Securities may recover less, ratably, than holders of Senior Debt and may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities. In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any Subordinated Debt Securities, the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding at the time of such acceleration will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due thereon before the Holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities will be entitled to receive any payment upon the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities. No payments on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities may be made if there shall have occurred and be continuing a default in any payment with respect to Senior Debt, or an event of default with respect to any Senior Debt resulting in the acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if any judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default. "Senior Debt" is defined to mean the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Operating Partnership to the extent such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) on all indebtedness of the Operating Partnership (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Operating Partnership), other than the Subordinated Debt Securities whether outstanding on the date of the Subordinated Indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, which is: (i) for money borrowed, (ii) evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind or (iii) obligations of the Operating Partnership as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles or leases of property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which the Operating 16 19 Partnership is a party, including amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness or obligation, unless in any case in the instrument creating or evidencing any such indebtedness or obligation or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness or obligation is not superior in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt Securities. The Subordinated Indenture does not limit or prohibit the incurrence of additional Senior Debt, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the Subordinated Debt Securities, but subordinate to other obligations of the Operating Partnership. The Senior Debt Securities, when issued, will constitute Senior Debt. The Prospectus Supplement will set forth the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness as of the most recent practicable date that by the terms of such indebtedness and the terms of the offered Subordinated Debt Securities would rank senior to or pari passu with such Subordinated Debt Securities and any limitation on the issuance of additional senior or pari passu indebtedness. The Prospectus Supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, applicable to the subordination of the Subordinated Debt Securities of a particular series. GOVERNING LAW The Indentures and the Debt Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. (Section 112) REGARDING THE TRUSTEES The Operating Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business maintain general banking relations with The Bank of New York. Pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, upon a default under either the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture, The Bank of New York may be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of its acting as both the Senior Trustee and the Subordinated Trustee requiring it to resign and be replaced by a successor trustee in one of such positions. DESCRIPTION OF DEBT WARRANTS The Operating Partnership may issue Debt Warrants to purchase Debt Securities ("Debt Warrants"). Debt Warrants may be issued independently or together with any Debt Securities and may be attached to or separate from such Debt Securities. The Debt Warrants are to be issued under warrant agreements (each a "Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the Operating Partnership and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent (the "Warrant Agent"), all as shall be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to Debt Warrants being offered pursuant thereto. If so indicated in a Prospectus Supplement, the terms of any Debt Warrants may differ from the terms set forth below. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of Debt Warrants offered thereby, the Warrant Agreement relating to such Debt Warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing such Debt Warrants, including the following: (1) the title of such Debt Warrants; (2) the aggregate number of such Debt Warrants; (3) the price or prices at which such Debt Warrants will be issued; (4) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which the price of such Debt Warrants may be payable; (5) the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of such Debt Warrants, and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such Debt Warrants; (6) the designation and terms of any related Debt Securities with which such Debt Warrants are issued, and the number of such Debt Warrants issued with each such Debt Security; (7) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on the Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of such Debt Warrants will be payable; (8) the date, if any, on and after which such Debt Warrants and the related Debt Securities will be separately transferable; (9) the principal amount of Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of each Debt Warrant, and the price at which and the currency, including composite currency or currency unit, in which such 17 20 principal amount of Debt Securities may be purchased upon such exercise; (10) the date on which the right to exercise such Debt Warrants shall commence, and the date on which such right shall expire; (11) the maximum or minimum number of such Debt Warrants which may be exercised at any time; (12) a discussion of material Federal income tax considerations, if any; and (13) any other terms of such Debt Warrants and terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exercise of such Debt Warrants. Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and Debt Warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in the Prospectus Supplement. Prior to the exercise of their Debt Warrants, holders of Debt Warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the Debt Securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Debt Securities purchasable upon such exercise. EXERCISE OF DEBT WARRANTS Each Debt Warrant will entitle the holder of such Debt Warrant to purchase for cash such principal amount of Debt Securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Debt Warrants offered thereby. Debt Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Debt Warrants offered thereby. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised Debt Warrants will become void. Debt Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Debt Warrants offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Operating Partnership will, as soon as practicable, forward the Debt Securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the Debt Warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining Debt Warrants. DESCRIPTION OF SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST The following descriptions of the shares of beneficial interest of the Company do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the more complete descriptions thereof set forth in the following documents: (i) the Company's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, including the articles supplementary for the Series A Preferred Shares (the "Declaration of Trust"), and (ii) its Bylaws, which documents are exhibits to this Registration Statement. For the Company to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% of the value of its outstanding shares of beneficial interest may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year and the shares must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year). Accordingly, the Declaration of Trust contains provisions that restrict the ownership and transfer of shares of beneficial interest. The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of up to 180,000,000 shares, consisting of 70,000,000 Common Shares, 20,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, no par value per share ("Preferred Shares"), and 90,000,000 excess shares of beneficial interest, $.04 par value per share ("Excess Shares"). DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES The following is a description of certain general terms and provisions of the Preferred Shares. The particular terms of any series of Preferred Shares will be described in the applicable Prospectus 18 21 Supplement. If so indicated in a Prospectus Supplement, the terms of any such series may differ from the terms set forth below. The summary of terms of the Company's Preferred Shares contained in this Prospectus does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and the articles supplementary relating to each series of the Preferred Shares (the "Articles Supplementary"), which will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part at or prior to the time of issuance of such series of the Preferred Shares. The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of 20,000,000 Preferred Shares. As of June 11, 1997, 5,750,000 Series A Preferred Shares are outstanding. The Series A Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "VNO Pr A". A description of the Company's Series A Preferred Shares is set forth in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on April 3, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference. The Preferred Shares authorized by the Declaration of Trust may be issued from time to time in one or more series in such amounts and with such designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees. Under certain circumstances, the issuance of Preferred Shares could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of the Company and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of Common Shares. The Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board of Trustees to classify or reclassify any unissued Preferred Shares by setting or changing the designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of such Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares shall have the dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights set forth below unless otherwise described in a Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series of the Preferred Shares. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the following terms of the series of Preferred Shares in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered: (1) the title of such Preferred Shares and the number of shares offered; (2) the amount of liquidation preference per share; (3) the initial public offering price at which such Preferred Shares will be issued; (4) the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends shall be payable and the dates from which dividends shall commence to cumulate, if any; (5) any redemption or sinking fund provisions; (6) any conversion or exchange rights; (7) any additional voting, dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, limitations and restrictions; (8) any listing of such Preferred Shares on any securities exchange; (9) the relative ranking and preferences of such Preferred Shares as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company; (10) any limitations on issuance of any series of Preferred Shares ranking senior to or on a parity with such series of Preferred Shares as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company; and (11) any limitations on direct, beneficial or constructive ownership and restrictions on transfer, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve the status of the Company as a REIT. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will also include a discussion of Federal income tax considerations applicable to such Preferred Shares. General The Preferred Shares offered hereby will be issued in one or more series. The Preferred Shares, upon issuance against full payment of the purchase price therefor, will be fully paid and nonassessable. The liquidation preference is not indicative of the price at which the Preferred Shares will actually trade on or after the date of issuance. Rank The Preferred Shares shall, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company, rank prior to the Common Shares and Excess Shares (other than certain Excess Shares resulting from the conversion of Preferred Shares) and to all other classes and series of 19 22 equity securities of the Company now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding (the Common Shares and such other classes and series of equity securities collectively may be referred to herein as the "Junior Stock"), other than any classes or series of equity securities of the Company which by their terms specifically provide for a ranking on a parity with (the "Parity Stock") or senior to (the "Senior Stock") the Preferred Shares as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. The Preferred Shares shall be junior to all outstanding debt of the Company. The Preferred Shares shall be subject to creation of Senior Stock, Parity Stock and Junior Stock to the extent not expressly prohibited by the Declaration of Trust. Dividends Holders of Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by the Board of Trustees out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, dividends, or distributions in cash, property or other assets of the Company or in Securities of the Company or from any other source as the Board of Trustees in its discretion shall determine and at such dates and at such rates per share per annum as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Such rate may be fixed or variable or both. Each authorized dividend shall be payable to holders of record as they appear at the close of business on the books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 90 calendar days preceding the payment dates therefor, as are determined by the Board of Trustees (each of such dates, a "Record Date"). Such dividends may be cumulative or noncumulative, as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If dividends on a series of Preferred Shares are noncumulative and if the Board of Trustees fails to authorize a dividend in respect of a dividend period with respect to such series, then holders of such Preferred Shares will have no right to receive a dividend in respect of such dividend period, and the Company will have no obligation to pay the dividend for such period, whether or not dividends are authorized payable on any future dividend payment dates. If dividends of a series of Preferred Shares are cumulative, the dividends on such shares will accrue from and after the date set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. No full dividends shall be authorized or paid or set apart for payment on Preferred Shares of any series ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the series of Preferred Shares offered by the applicable Prospectus Supplement for any period unless full dividends for the immediately preceding dividend period on such Preferred Shares (including any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods, if dividends on such Preferred Shares are cumulative) have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for such payment. When dividends are not so paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon such Preferred Shares and any other Preferred Shares of the Company ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Preferred Shares, dividends upon such Preferred Shares and dividends on such other Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the Preferred Shares shall be authorized pro rata so that the amount of dividends authorized per share on such Preferred Shares and such other Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the Preferred Shares shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the then-current dividend period per share on such Preferred Shares (including any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods, if dividends on such Preferred Shares are cumulative) and accrued dividends, including required or permitted accumulations, if any, on shares of such other Preferred Shares, bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment(s) on Preferred Shares which may be in arrears. Unless full dividends on the series of Preferred Shares offered by the applicable Prospectus Supplement have been authorized and paid or set apart for payment for the immediately preceding dividend period (including any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods, if dividends on such Preferred Shares are cumulative), (a) no cash dividend or distribution (other than in shares of Junior Stock) may be authorized, set aside or paid on the Junior Stock, (b) the Company may not, directly or indirectly, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its Junior Stock (or pay any monies into a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares) except by conversion into or exchange for Junior Stock, and (c) the Company may not, directly or indirectly, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Preferred Shares or Parity Stock (or pay any monies into a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) otherwise than 20 23 pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase or a concurrent redemption of all, or a pro rata portion, of the outstanding Preferred Shares and shares of Parity Stock (except by conversion into or exchange for Junior Stock). Any dividend payment made on a series of Preferred Shares shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to shares of such series. Redemption The terms, if any, on which Preferred Shares of any series may be redeemed will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Liquidation In the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, the holders of a series of Preferred Shares will be entitled, subject to the rights of creditors, but before any distribution or payment to the holders of Common Shares, Excess Shares (other than certain Excess Shares resulting from the conversion of Preferred Shares) or any Junior Stock on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of the liquidation preference per share as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement plus accrued and unpaid dividends for the then-current dividend period (including any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods, if dividends on such series of Preferred Shares are cumulative). If the amounts available for distribution with respect to the Preferred Shares and all other outstanding Parity Stock are not sufficient to satisfy the full liquidation rights of all the outstanding Preferred Shares and Parity Stock, then the holders of each series of such stock will share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amount (which in the case of Preferred Shares may include accumulated dividends) to which they are entitled. After payment of the full amount of the liquidation distribution, the holders of Preferred Shares will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Company. Title 8 does not contain any sections on the power of a Maryland real estate investment trust, such as the Company, to make distributions, including dividends, to its shareholders. It is possible that a Maryland court may look to Maryland general corporate law ("MGCL") for guidance on matters, such as the making of distributions to shareholders, not covered by Title 8. The MGCL requires that, after giving effect to a distribution, (1) the corporation must be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business and (2) the corporation's assets must at least equal the sum of its liabilities and the preferential rights on dissolution of stockholders whose rights on dissolution are superior to those stockholders receiving the distribution. However, the MGCL also provides that the charter of the corporation may provide that senior dissolution preferences shall not be included with liabilities for purposes of determining amounts available for distribution. The applicable articles supplementary may include such a provision. Voting The Preferred Shares of a series will not be entitled to vote, except as described below or in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Without the affirmative vote of a majority of the Preferred Shares then outstanding (voting separately as a class together with any Parity Stock), the Company may not (i) increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of such class or any security ranking prior to the Preferred Shares, (ii) increase or decrease the par value of the shares of holders of such class, or (iii) alter or change the voting or other powers, preferences or special rights of such class so as to affect them adversely. An amendment which increases the number of authorized shares of or authorizes the creation or issuance of other classes or series of Junior Stock or Parity Stock, or substitutes the surviving entity in a merger, consolidation, reorganization or other business combination for the Company, shall not be considered to be such an adverse change. 21 24 No Other Rights The shares of a series of Preferred Shares will not have any preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption except as set forth above or in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Declaration of Trust and in the applicable Articles Supplementary or as otherwise required by law. Transfer Agent and Registrar The transfer agent for each series of Preferred Shares will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement. Restrictions on Ownership As discussed below, for the Company to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of its outstanding shares of beneficial interest may be owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year, and the shares of beneficial interest must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year). Therefore, the Declaration of Trust contains, and the Articles Supplementary for each series of Preferred Shares may contain, provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of the Preferred Shares. The Declaration of Trust contains a limitation that restricts shareholders from owning, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, more than 9.9% of the outstanding Preferred Shares of any series (the "Preferred Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit"). The attribution rules which apply for purposes of the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit (as defined below) also apply for purposes of the Preferred Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit. See "Description of Common Shares -- Restrictions on Ownership". Shareholders should be aware that events other than a purchase or other transfer of Preferred Shares may result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, of Preferred Shares in excess of the Preferred Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the attribution rules of the Code in their particular circumstances. Holders of Preferred Shares are also subject to the Constructive Ownership Limit (as defined below in "Description of Common Shares -- Restrictions on Ownership"), which restricts them from owning, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, more than 9.9% of the outstanding Preferred Shares of any series. The attribution rules which apply for purposes of the Constructive Ownership Limit differ from those that apply for purposes of the Preferred Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit. See "Description of Common Shares -- Restrictions on Ownership". Shareholders should be aware that events other than a purchase or other transfer of Preferred Shares may result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, of Preferred Shares in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the attribution rules of the Code in their particular circumstances. The Declaration of Trust provides that a transfer of Preferred Shares that would otherwise result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, of Preferred Shares in excess of the Preferred Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit or the Constructive Ownership Limit, or which would cause the shares of beneficial interest of the Company to be beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons, will be null and void and the Declaration of Trust provides that the purported transferee will acquire no rights or economic interest in such Preferred Shares. In addition, Preferred Shares that would otherwise be owned, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, in excess of the Preferred Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit or the Constructive Ownership Limit will be automatically exchanged for Excess Shares that will be transferred, by operation of law, to the Company as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of a beneficiary designated by the purported transferee or purported holder. While so held in trust, Excess Shares are not entitled to vote and are not entitled to participate in any dividends or distributions made by the Company. Any dividends or distributions received by the purported transferee or other purported holder of such Excess Shares prior to 22 25 the discovery by the Company of the automatic exchange for Excess Shares shall be repaid to the Company upon demand. If the purported transferee or purported holder elects to designate a beneficiary of an interest in the trust with respect to such Excess Shares, only a person whose ownership of the shares will not violate the Preferred Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit or the Constructive Ownership Limit may be designated, at which time the Excess Shares will be automatically exchanged for Preferred Shares of the same class as the Preferred Shares which were originally exchanged for such Excess Shares. The Declaration of Trust contains provisions designed to ensure that the purported transferee or other purported holder of the Excess Shares may not receive in return for such a transfer an amount that reflects any appreciation in the Preferred Shares for which such Excess Shares were exchanged during the period that such Excess Shares were outstanding but will bear the burden of any decline in value during such period. Any amount received by a purported transferee or other purported holder for designating a beneficiary in excess of the amount permitted to be received must be turned over to the Company. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Company may purchase any Excess Shares that have been automatically exchanged for Preferred Shares as a result of a purported transfer or other event. The price at which the Company may purchase such Excess Shares shall be equal to the lesser of (i) in the case of Excess Shares resulting from a purported transfer for value, the price per share in the purported transfer that resulted in the automatic exchange for Excess Shares or, in the case of Excess Shares resulting from some other event, the market price of the Preferred Shares exchanged on the date of the automatic exchange for Excess Shares and (ii) the market price of the Preferred Shares exchanged for such Excess Shares on the date that the Company accepts the deemed offer to sell such Excess Shares. The Company's purchase right with respect to Excess Shares shall exist for 90 days, beginning on the date that the automatic exchange for Excess Shares occurred or, if the Company did not receive a notice concerning the purported transfer that resulted in the automatic exchange for Excess Shares, the date that the Board of Trustees determines in good faith that an exchange for Excess Shares has occurred. The Board of Trustees may exempt certain persons from the Preferred Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit or the Constructive Ownership Limit if evidence satisfactory to the trustees is presented showing that such exemption will not jeopardize the Company's status as a REIT under the Code. As a condition of such exemption, the Board of Trustees may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service and/or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it and/or representations and undertakings from the applicant with respect to preserving the REIT status of the Company. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT. All certificates evidencing Preferred Shares will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above. All persons who own, directly or by virtue of the applicable attribution rules of the Code, more than 2% of the outstanding Preferred Shares of any series must give a written notice to the Company containing the information specified in the Declaration of Trust by January 31 of each year. In addition, each shareholder shall upon demand be required to disclose to the Company such information as the Company may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Company's status as a REIT or to comply with Treasury Regulations promulgated under the REIT provisions of the Code. DEPOSITARY SHARES The description set forth below and in any Prospectus Supplement of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and of the Depositary Shares and Depositary Receipts (each as defined below) does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the forms of Deposit Agreement and Depositary Receipts relating to each series of the Preferred Shares which have been or will be filed with the Commission at or prior to the time of the offering of such series of the Preferred Shares. 23 26 If so indicated in a Prospectus Supplement, the terms of any series of Depositary Shares may differ from the terms set forth herein. General The Company may, at its option, elect to offer receipts for fractional interests ("Depositary Shares") in Preferred Shares, rather than full Preferred Shares. In such event, receipts ("Depositary Receipts") for Depositary Shares, each of which will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series of Preferred Shares) of a share of a particular series of Preferred Shares, will be issued as described below. The shares of any series of Preferred Shares represented by Depositary Shares will be deposited under a Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit Agreement") between the Company and the depositary (the "Depositary"). Subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a Preferred Share represented by such Depositary Share, to all the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of the Preferred Shares represented thereby. Dividends and Other Distributions The Depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the Preferred Shares to the record holders of Depositary Shares relating to such Preferred Shares in proportion to the numbers of such Depositary Shares owned by such holders. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the Depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of Depositary Shares in an equitable manner, unless the Depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the Depositary may sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders. Withdrawal of Preferred Shares Upon surrender of Depositary Receipts at the corporate trust office of the Depositary (unless the related Depositary Shares have previously been called for redemption or converted into Excess Shares or otherwise), the holders thereof will be entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon such holder's order, of the number of whole or fractional shares of the class or series of Preferred Shares and any money or other property represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Depositary Receipts. Holders of Depositary Receipts will be entitled to receive whole or fractional shares of the related class or series of Preferred Shares on the basis of the proportion of Preferred Shares represented by each Depositary Share as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, but holders of such Preferred Shares will not thereafter be entitled to receive Depositary Shares thereof. If the Depositary Receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of shares of Preferred Shares to be withdrawn, the Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new Depositary Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares. Redemption of Depositary Shares If a series of Preferred Shares represented by Depositary Shares is subject to redemption, the Depositary Shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the Depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of such series of Preferred Shares held by the Depositary. The redemption price per Depositary Share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to such series of the Preferred Shares. Whenever the Company redeems Preferred Shares held by the Depositary, the Depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of Depositary Shares representing Preferred Shares so redeemed. If fewer than all the Depositary Shares are to be 24 27 redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot, pro rata or by any other equitable method as may be determined by the Depositary. Voting the Preferred Shares Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Preferred Shares are entitled to vote, the Depositary will mail the information contained in such notices of meeting to the record holders of the Depositary Shares relating to such Preferred Shares. Each record holder of such Depositary Shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the Preferred Shares) will be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of the Preferred Shares represented by such holder's Depositary Shares. The Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the Preferred Shares represented by such Depositary Shares in accordance with such instructions, and the Company will agree to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to do so. The Depositary will abstain from voting the Preferred Shares to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holder of Depositary Shares representing such Preferred Shares. Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement The form of Depositary Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares and any provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of Depositary Shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the Depositary Shares then outstanding. The Deposit Agreement will only terminate if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares have been redeemed or (ii) there has been a final distribution in respect of the Preferred Shares in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of the related Depositary Shares. Charges of Depositary The Company will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. The Company will pay charges of the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the Preferred Shares and issuance of Depositary Receipts, all withdrawals of Preferred Shares by owners of Depositary Shares and any redemption of the Preferred Shares. Holders of Depositary Receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be for their accounts. Resignation and Removal of Depositary The Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to the Company notice of its election to do so, and the Company may at any time remove the Depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor Depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. Restrictions on Ownership In order to safeguard the Company against an inadvertent loss of REIT status, the Deposit Agreement or the Declaration of Trust will contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of Depositary Shares. Such restrictions will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. 25 28 Miscellaneous The Depositary will forward all reports and communications from the Company which are delivered to the Depositary and which the Company is required or otherwise determines to furnish to the holders of the Preferred Shares. Neither the Depositary nor the Company will be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the Deposit Agreement. The obligations of the Company and the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of their duties thereunder and they will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any Depositary Shares or Preferred Shares unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. They may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting Preferred Shares for deposit, holders of Depositary Shares or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine. DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES As of June 11, 1997, 26,553,161 Common Shares were issued and outstanding and no Excess Shares were issued and outstanding. The Common Shares of the Company are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "VNO". The holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive dividends when, if and as authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Company out of assets legally available therefor, provided that if any Preferred Shares are at the time outstanding, the payment of dividends on Common Shares or other distributions (including purchases of Common Shares) may be subject to the declaration and payment of full cumulative dividends, and the absence of arrearages in any mandatory sinking fund, on outstanding Preferred Shares. The holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters voted on by stockholders, including elections of trustees. There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees, which means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares can elect all of the trustees then standing for election. The holders of Common Shares do not have any conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any securities of the Company. In the event of the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, holders of Common Shares are entitled to share ratably in any assets remaining after the satisfaction in full of the prior rights of creditors, including holders of the Company's indebtedness, and the aggregate liquidation preference of any Preferred Shares then outstanding. The Common Shares have equal dividend, distribution, liquidation and other rights, and shall have no preference, appraisal or exchange rights. All outstanding shares of Common Shares are, and any Common Shares offered by a Prospectus Supplement, upon issuance, will be, fully paid and non-assessable. The transfer agent for the Common Shares is First Fidelity Bank, N.A., New Jersey. Restrictions on Ownership The Declaration of Trust contains a number of provisions which restrict the ownership and transfer of shares and which are designed to safeguard the Company against an inadvertent loss of its REIT status. In order to prevent any Company shareholder from owning shares in an amount which would cause more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares of the Company to be owned by five or fewer individuals, the Declaration of Trust contains a limitation that restricts, with certain exceptions, shareholders from owning, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, more than a specified percentage of the outstanding Common Shares (the "Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit"). The Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit was initially set at 2.0% of the outstanding Common Shares. The Board of Trustees subsequently adopted a resolution raising the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit from 2.0% to 6.7% of the outstanding Common Shares. The shareholders who owned, under the applicable attribution rules of 26 29 the Code, more than 6.7% of the Common Shares immediately after the merger of Vornado, Inc. into the Company in May 1993 (the "Merger") may continue to do so and may acquire additional Common Shares through stock option and similar plans or from other shareholders who owned, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, more than 6.7% of the Common Shares immediately after the Merger, subject to the restriction that Common Shares cannot be transferred if, as a result, more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares of the Company would be owned by five or fewer individuals. While such shareholders are not generally permitted to acquire additional Common Shares from any other source, such shareholders may acquire additional Common Shares from any source in the event that additional Common Shares are issued by the Company, up to the percentage held by them immediately prior to such issuance. Shareholders should be aware that events other than a purchase or other transfer of Common Shares can result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, of Common Shares in excess of the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit. For instance, if two shareholders, each of whom owns, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, 3.5% of the outstanding Common Shares, were to marry, then after their marriage both shareholders would own, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, 7.0% of the outstanding Common Shares, which is in excess of the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit. Similarly, if a shareholder who owns, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, 4.9% of the outstanding Common Shares were to purchase a 50% interest in a corporation which owns 4.8% of the outstanding Common Shares, then the shareholder would own, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, 7.3% of the outstanding Common Shares. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers concerning the application of the attribution rules of the Code in their particular circumstances. Under the Code, rental income received by a REIT from persons in which the REIT is treated, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, as owning a 10% or greater interest does not constitute qualifying income for purposes of the income requirements that REITs must satisfy. For these purposes, a REIT is treated as owning any stock owned, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, by a person that owns 10% or more of the value of the outstanding shares of the REIT. Therefore, in order to ensure that rental income of the Company will not be treated as nonqualifying income under the rule described above, and thus to ensure that there will not be an inadvertent loss of REIT status as a result of the ownership of shares of a tenant, or a person that holds an interest in a tenant, the Declaration of Trust also contains an ownership limit that restricts, with certain exceptions, shareholders from owning, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code (which are different from those applicable with respect to the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit), more than 9.9% of the outstanding shares of any class (the "Constructive Ownership Limit"). The shareholders who owned, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, shares in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit immediately after the Merger generally are not subject to the Constructive Ownership Limit. Subject to an exception for tenants and subtenants from whom the REIT receives, directly or indirectly, rental income that is not in excess of a specified threshold, the Declaration of Trust also contains restrictions that are designed to ensure that the shareholders who owned, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, shares in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit immediately after the Merger will not, in the aggregate, own an interest in a tenant or subtenant of the REIT of sufficient magnitude to cause rental income received, directly or indirectly, by the REIT from such tenant or subtenant to be treated as nonqualifying income for purposes of the income requirements that REITs must satisfy. Shareholders should be aware that events other than a purchase or other transfer of shares can result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, of shares in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit. As the attribution rules that apply with respect to the Constructive Ownership Limit differ from those that apply with respect to the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit, the events other than a purchase or other transfer of shares which can result in share ownership in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit can differ from those which can result in share ownership in excess of the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers concerning the application of the attribution rules of the Code in their particular circumstances. 27 30 The Declaration of Trust provides that a transfer of Common Shares that would otherwise result in ownership, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, of Common Shares in excess of the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit or the Constructive Ownership Limit, or which would cause the shares of beneficial interest of the Company to be beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons, will be null and void and the purported transferee will acquire no rights or economic interest in such Common Shares. In addition, the Declaration of Trust provides that Common Shares that would otherwise be owned, under the applicable attribution rules of the Code, in excess of the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit or the Constructive Ownership Limit will be automatically exchanged for Excess Shares that will be transferred, by operation of law, to the Company as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of a beneficiary designated by the purported transferee or purported holder. While so held in trust, Excess Shares are not entitled to vote and are not entitled to participate in any dividends or distributions made by the Company. Any dividends or distributions received by the purported transferee or other purported holder of such Excess Shares prior to the discovery by the Company of the automatic exchange for Excess Shares shall be repaid to the Company upon demand. If the purported transferee or purported holder elects to designate a beneficiary of an interest in the trust with respect to such Excess Shares, only a person whose ownership of the shares will not violate the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit or the Constructive Ownership Limit may be designated, at which time the Excess Shares will be automatically exchanged for Common Shares. The Declaration of Trust contains provisions designed to ensure that the purported transferee or other purported holder of the Excess Shares may not receive in return for such a transfer an amount that reflects any appreciation in the Common Shares for which such Excess Shares were exchanged during the period that such Excess Shares were outstanding but will bear the burden of any decline in value during such period. Any amount received by a purported transferee or other purported holder for designating a beneficiary in excess of the amount permitted to be received must be turned over to the Company. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Company may purchase any Excess Shares that have been automatically exchanged for Common Shares as a result of a purported transfer or other event. The price at which the Company may purchase such Excess Shares shall be equal to the lesser of (i) in the case of Excess Shares resulting from a purported transfer for value, the price per share in the purported transfer that resulted in the automatic exchange for Excess Shares or, in the case of Excess Shares resulting from some other event, the market price of the Common Shares exchanged on the date of the automatic exchange for Excess Shares and (ii) the market price of the Common Shares exchanged for such Excess Shares on the date that the Company accepts the deemed offer to sell such Excess Shares. The Company's purchase right with respect to Excess Shares shall exist for 90 days, beginning on the date that the automatic exchange for Excess Shares occurred or, if the Company did not receive a notice concerning the purported transfer that resulted in the automatic exchange for Excess Shares, the date that the Board of Trustees determines in good faith that an exchange for Excess Shares has occurred. The Board of Trustees of the Company may exempt certain persons from the Common Shares Beneficial Ownership Limit or the Constructive Ownership Limit, including the limitations applicable to holders who owned in excess of 6.7% of the Common Shares immediately after the Merger, if evidence satisfactory to the Board of Trustees is presented showing that such exemption will not jeopardize the Company's status as a REIT under the Code. As a condition of such exemption, the Board of Trustees may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service and/or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it and/or representations and undertakings from the applicant with respect to preserving the REIT status of the Company. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT. All persons who own, directly or by virtue of the applicable attribution rules of the Code, more than 2.0% of the outstanding Common Shares must give a written notice to the Company containing the information specified in the Declaration of Trust by January 31 of each year. In addition, each shareholder shall upon demand be required to disclose to the Company such information as the Company may request, in good faith, 28 31 in order to determine the Company's status as a REIT or to comply with Treasury Regulations promulgated under the REIT provisions of the Code. The ownership restrictions described above may have the effect of precluding acquisition of control of the Company unless the Board of Trustees determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in the best interests of the Company. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS The following summary of the taxation of the Company and the material Federal income tax consequences to holders of the Securities is for general information only, and is not tax advice. The tax treatment of a holder of Securities will vary depending upon the holder's particular situation, and this discussion addresses only holders that hold Securities as capital assets and does not purport to deal with all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to particular holders in light of their personal investment or tax circumstances, or to certain types of holders (including dealers in securities or currencies, banks, tax-exempt organizations, life insurance companies, persons that hold Securities that are a hedge or that are hedged against currency risks or that are part of a straddle or conversion transaction) subject to special treatment under the Federal income tax laws. This summary is based on the Code, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect and all subject to change at any time, perhaps with retroactive effect. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND SALE OF SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND SALE IN THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND POTENTIAL CHANGES IN APPLICABLE LAWS. TAXATION OF THE COMPANY AS A REIT General The Company believes that, commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 1993, it has been organized and has operated in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code. The Company intends to continue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT, but no assurance of continued qualification can be given. The sections of the Code applicable to REITs are highly technical and complex. Certain aspects thereof are summarized below. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to Federal corporate income taxes on its net income that is currently distributed to shareholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the "double taxation" (at the corporate and shareholder levels) that generally results from investment in a regular corporation. However, the Company will be subject to federal income tax as follows. First, the Company will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed real estate investment trust taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. Second, under certain circumstances, the Company may be subject to the "alternative minimum tax" on its items of tax preference. Third, if the Company has (i) net income from the sale or other disposition of "foreclosure property" which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (ii) other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, it will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on such income. Fourth, if the Company has net income from "prohibited transactions" (which are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business), such income will be subject to a 100% tax. Fifth, if the Company should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test (as discussed below), but has nonetheless maintained its qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements have been met, it will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount equal to (a) the 29 32 gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by which the Company fails the 75% or 95% test, multiplied by (b) a fraction intended to reflect the Company's profitability. Sixth, if the Company should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of its real estate investment trust ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of its real estate investment trust capital gain net income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, the Company would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed. Seventh, if during the 10- year period (the "Recognition Period") beginning on the first day of the first taxable year for which the Company qualified as a REIT, the Company recognizes gain on the disposition of any asset held by the Company as of the beginning of the Recognition Period, then, to the extent of the excess of (a) fair market value of such asset as of the beginning of the Recognition Period over (b) the Company's adjusted basis in such asset as of the beginning of the Recognition Period (the "Built-in Gain"), such gain will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate pursuant to Treasury regulations that have not been promulgated; provided, however, that the Company shall not be subject to tax on recognized Built-in Gain with respect to assets held as of the first day of the Recognition Period to the extent that the aggregate amount of such recognized Built-in Gain exceeds the net aggregate amount of the Company's unrealized Built-in Gain as of the first day of the Recognition Period. Eighth, if the Company acquires any asset from a C corporation (i.e., generally a corporation subject to full corporate-level tax) in certain transactions in which the basis of the asset in the hands of the Company is determined by reference to the basis of the asset (or any other property) in the hands of the C corporation, and the Company recognizes gain on the disposition of such asset during the Recognition Period beginning on the date on which such asset was acquired by the Company, then, pursuant to the Treasury regulations that have not yet been issued and to the extent of the Built-in Gain, such gain will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate. Requirements for Qualification The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association (1) which is managed by one or more trustees or directors, (2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest, (3) which would otherwise be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code, (4) which is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code, (5) the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons, (6) during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) and (7) which meets certain other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets. The Code provides that conditions (1) to (4) must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. The Company has satisfied condition (5) and believes that it has also satisfied condition (6). In addition, the Company's Declaration of Trust provides for restrictions regarding the ownership and transfer of the Company's shares of beneficial interest, which restrictions are intended to assist the Company in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. The ownership and transfer restrictions pertaining to the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares are described above under the headings "Description of Shares of Beneficial Interest--Description of Preferred Shares--Restrictions on Ownership" and "Description of Shares of Beneficial Interest--Description of Common Shares-Restrictions on Ownership." The Company owns a number of wholly-owned subsidiaries. Code Section 856(i) provides that a corporation which is a "qualified REIT subsidiary" shall not be treated as a separate corporation, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a "qualified REIT subsidiary" shall be treated as assets, liabilities and such items (as the case may be) of the REIT. Thus, in applying the requirements described herein, the Company's "qualified REIT subsidiaries" will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction, and credit of such subsidiaries will be treated as assets, liabilities and such items (as the case may be) of the Company. The Company believes that all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries are "qualified REIT subsidiaries." 30 33 In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership, Treasury regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such share. In addition, the character of the assets and gross income of the partnership will retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and the asset tests. Thus, the Company's proportionate share of the assets, liabilities and items of income of any partnership in which the Company is a partner, including the Operating Partnership, will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income of the Company for purposes of applying the requirements described herein. Thus, actions taken by partnerships in which the Company owns an interest either directly or through one or more tiers of partnerships or qualified REIT subsidiaries, can affect the Company's ability to satisfy the REIT income and assets tests and the determination of whether the Company has net income from "prohibited transactions". Income Tests. In order to maintain qualification as a REIT, the Company annually must satisfy three gross income requirements. First, at least 75% of the Company's gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property (including "rents from real property"--which term generally includes expenses of the Company that are paid or reimbursed by tenants) or from certain types of temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of the Company's gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived from such real property investments, dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities (or from any combination of the foregoing). Third, short-term gain from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities, gain from prohibited transactions and gain on the sale or other disposition of real property held for less than four years (apart from involuntary conversions and sales of foreclosure property) must represent less than 30% of the Company's gross income (including gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year. Rents received by the Company will qualify as "rents from real property" in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions are met. First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the terms "rents from real property" solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, the Code provides that rents received from a tenant will not qualify as "rents from real property" in satisfying the gross income tests if the REIT, directly or under the applicable attribution rules, owns a 10% or greater interest in such tenant (a "Related Party Tenant"). Third, if rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to such personal property will not qualify as "rents from real property". Finally, for rents received to qualify as "rents from real property," the REIT generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to the tenants of such property, other than through an independent contractor from whom the REIT derives no revenue; provided, however, that the Company may directly perform certain services that are "usually or customarily rendered" in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only or are not considered "rendered to the occupant" of the property. The Company does not derive significant rents from Related Party Tenants, and the Company does not and will not derive rental income attributable to personal property (other than personal property leased in connection with the lease of real property, the amount of which is less than 15% of the total rent received under the lease). The Company directly performs services for certain of its tenants. The Company does not believe that the provision of such services will cause its gross income attributable to such tenants to fail to be treated as "rents from real property." The term "interest" generally does not include any amount received or accrued (directly or indirectly) if the determination of such amount depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term "interest" solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. If the Company fails to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, it may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for such year if it is entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. These relief provisions will generally be available if the Company's failure to meet such tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, the Company attaches a schedule of the sources 31 34 of its income to its Federal income tax return, and any incorrect information on the schedule was not due to fraud with intent to evade tax. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances the Company would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. As discussed above under "-- General," even if these relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to the excess income. Asset Tests. The Company, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, must also satisfy three tests relating to the nature of its assets. First, at least 75% of the value of the Company's total assets must be represented by real estate assets (including (i) real estate assets held by the Company's qualified REIT subsidiaries and the Company's allocable share of real estate assets held by partnerships in which the Company owns an interest, (ii) for a period of one year from the date of the Company's receipt of proceeds of an offering of its shares of beneficial interest or long-term (at least five years) debt, stock or debt instruments purchased with such proceeds and (iii) stock issued by another REIT), cash, cash items and government securities. Second, not more than 25% of the Company's total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class. Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, the value of any one issuer's securities (other than securities issued by another REIT) owned by the Company may not exceed 5% of the value of the Company's total assets and the Company may not own more than 10% of any one issuer's outstanding voting securities. Since March 2, 1995, the Company has owned more than 10% of the voting securities of Alexander's. Since April of 1997, the Company's ownership of Alexander's has been through the Operating Partnership rather than direct. The Company's ownership interest in Alexander's will not cause the Company to fail to satisfy the asset tests for REIT status so long as Alexander's qualified as a REIT for each of taxable years beginning with its taxable year ending December 31, 1995 and continues to so qualify. The Company believes that Alexander's has so qualified and will continue to so qualify. Since April of 1997 the Company has also owned, through the Operating Partnership, more than 10% of the voting securities of Two Penn Plaza REIT, Inc. ("Two Penn REIT"). The Company's indirect ownership interest in Two Penn REIT will not cause the Company to fail to satisfy the asset tests for REIT status so long as Two Penn REIT qualifies as a REIT for its first taxable year and each taxable year thereafter. The Company believes that Two Penn REIT will also qualify. In order to ensure compliance with the 95% gross income test described above, the Company transferred certain contract rights and obligations to VMC, a New Jersey corporation, in return for all of VMC's nonvoting preferred stock (the "Nonvoting Stock"). Since April of 1997, the Nonvoting Stock has been held by the Operating Partnership. The Nonvoting Stock entitles the holder thereof to 95% of the dividends paid by VMC. The Company does not believe that its indirect ownership of the Nonvoting Stock will adversely affect its ability to satisfy the asset tests described above. Since April of 1997 and June of 1997, respectively, the Company has also owned, through the Operating Partnership, nonvoting shares in the Management Corporation and Vornado RR, Inc. The Company does not believe that the characteristics or value of such shares will cause the Company to fail to satisfy the REIT asset tests described above. Annual Distribution Requirements. The Company, in order to qualify as a REIT, is required to distribute dividends (other than capital gain dividends) to its shareholders in an amount at least equal to (A) the sum of (i) 95% of the Company's "real estate investment trust taxable income" (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and the Company's net capital gain) and (ii) 95% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property minus (B) the sum of certain items of non-cash income. In addition, if the Company disposes of any asset during its Recognition Period, the Company will be required, pursuant to Treasury regulations which have not yet been promulgated, to distribute at least 95% of the Built-in Gain (after tax), if any, recognized on the disposition of such asset. Such distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before the Company timely files its tax return for such year and if paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. To the extent that the Company does not distribute all of its net capital gain or distributes at least 95%, but less than 100%, of its "real estate investment trust taxable income," as adjusted, it will be subject to tax thereon at regular ordinary and capital gain corporate tax rates. Furthermore, if the Company should fail to distribute 32 35 during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of its capital gain net income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, the Company would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed. The Company intends to satisfy the annual distribution requirements. It is possible that the Company, from time to time, may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the 95% distribution requirement due to timing differences between (i) the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and (ii) the inclusion of such income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at taxable income of the Company. In the event that such timing differences occur, in order to meet the 95% distribution requirement, the Company may find it necessary to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings or to pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends. Under certain circumstances, the Company may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying "deficiency dividends" to shareholders in a later year, which may be included in the Company's deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, the Company may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends; however, the Company will be required to pay interest based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends. Failure to Qualify If the Company fails to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions do not apply, the Company will be subject to tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on its taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which the Company fails to qualify will not be deductible by the Company nor will they be required to be made. In such event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to shareholders will be taxable as ordinary income and, subject to certain limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, the Company will also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances the Company would be entitled to such statutory relief. TAXATION OF HOLDERS OF DEBT SECURITIES As used herein, the term "U.S. Holder" means a holder of a Debt Security who (for United States Federal income tax purposes) is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a domestic corporation or (iii) otherwise subject to United States Federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of the Debt Security and "U.S. Alien Holder" means a holder of a Debt Security who (for United States Federal income tax purposes) is (i) a nonresident alien individual or (ii) a foreign corporation, partnership or estate or trust, in either case not subject to United States Federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of income or gain from the Debt Security. U.S. Holders Payments of Interest. Interest on a Debt Security will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time it is received or accrued, depending on the U.S. Holder's method of accounting for tax purposes. Purchase, Sale and Retirement of the Debt Securities. A U.S. Holder's tax basis in a Debt Security will generally be its U.S. dollar cost (including, in the case of a Debt Security acquired through the exercise of a Debt Warrant, both the cost of the Debt Warrant and the amount paid on exercise of the Debt Warrant). A U.S. Holder will generally recognize gain or loss on the sale or retirement of a Debt Security equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or retirement and the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the Debt Security. Except to the extent attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, gain or loss recognized on the sale or retirement of a Debt Security will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Debt Security was held for more than one year. 33 36 U.S. Alien Holders This discussion assumes that the Debt Security is not subject to the rules of Section 871(h)(4)(A) of the Code (relating to interest payments that are determined by reference to the income, profits, changes in the value of property or other attributes of the debtor or a related party). Under present United States Federal income and estate tax law, and subject to the discussion of backup withholding below: (i) payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest by the Company or any of its paying agents to any holder of a Debt Security that is a U.S. Alien Holder will not be subject to United States Federal withholding tax if, in the case of interest (a) the beneficial owner of the Debt Security does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the capital or profits interest in the Operating Partnership, (b) the beneficial owner of the Debt Security is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Operating Partnership through stock ownership, and (c) either (A) the beneficial owner of the Debt Security certifies to the Operating Partnership or its agent, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a U.S. person and provides its name and address or (B) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers' securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a "financial institution") and holds the Debt Security certifies to the Operating Partnership or its agent under penalties of perjury that such statement has been received from the beneficial owner by it or by a financial institution between it and the beneficial owner and furnishes the payor with a copy thereof; (ii) a U.S. Alien Holder of a Debt Security will not be subject to United States Federal withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale or exchange of a Debt Security; and (iii) a Debt Security held by an individual who at death is not a citizen or resident of the United States will not be includible in the individual's gross estate for purposes of the United States Federal estate tax as a result of the individual's death if (a) the individual did not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the capital or profits interest in the Operating Partnerships and (b) the income on the Debt Security would not have been effectively connected with a United States trade or business of the individual at the time of the individual's death. Proposed Internal Revenue Service regulations (the "Proposed Regulations") would provide alternative methods for satisfying the certification requirement described in clause (i)(c) above. The Proposed Regulations also would require, in the case of Debt Securities held by a foreign partnership, that (x) the certification described in clause (i)(c) above be provided by the partners rather than the partnership and (y) the partnership provide certain information, including a United States taxpayer identification number. A look-through rule would apply in the case of tiered partnerships. The Proposed Regulations are proposed to be effective for payments made after December 31, 1997. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Regulations will be adopted or as to the provisions they will include if and when adopted in temporary or final form. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding U.S. Holders. In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of principal, any premium and interest on a Debt Security and the proceeds of the sale of a Debt Security before maturity within the United States to non-corporate U.S. Holders, and "backup withholding" at a rate of 31% will apply to such payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number or is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that it has failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on its federal income tax returns. U.S. Alien Holders. Information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest made by the Operating Partnership or a paying agent to a U.S. Alien Holder on a Debt Security if the certification described in clause (i)(c) under "U.S. Alien Holders" above is received, provided that the payor does not have actual knowledge that the holder is a U.S. person. The 34 37 Operating Partnership or a paying agent, however, may report (on Internal Revenue Form 1042-S) payments of interest on the Debt Securities. Payments of the proceeds from the sale by a U.S. Alien Holder of a Debt Security made to or through a foreign office of a broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding, except that if the broker is a U.S. person, a controlled foreign corporation for United States Federal income tax purposes or a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period, information reporting may apply to such payments. Payments of the proceeds from the sale of a Debt Security to or through the United States office of a broker is subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the holder or beneficial owner certifies as to its non-United States status or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will contain a discussion of any special United States Federal income tax rules with respect to Debt Securities that are issued at a discount or premium or as a unit with other Securities, have a maturity of one year or less, provide for conversion rights, contingent payments, early redemption or payments that are denominated in or determined by reference to a currency other than the U.S. dollar or otherwise subject to special United States Federal income tax rules. TAXATION OF HOLDERS OF DEBT WARRANTS Sale or Expiration Generally, a holder of a Debt Warrant will recognize gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of a Debt Warrant in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale or other disposition and the holder's tax basis in the Debt Warrant. A holder of a Debt Warrant that expires unexercised will generally recognize loss in an amount equal to such holder's tax basis in the Debt Warrant. Gain or loss resulting from the sale, other disposition or expiration of a Debt Warrant will generally be capital gain or loss and will be long-term if the Debt Warrant was held for more than one year. Exercise The exercise of a Debt Warrant with cash will not be a taxable event for the exercising holder. Such holder's basis in the Debt Securities received on exercise of the Debt Warrant will equal the sum of such holder's tax basis in the exercised Debt Warrant and the exercise price of the Debt Warrant. The holding period in a Debt Security received on exercise of a Debt Warrant will not include the period during which the Debt Warrant was held. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will contain a discussion of any special United States Federal income tax rules with respect to Debt Warrants that are issued as a unit with other Securities. TAXATION OF HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES OR PREFERRED SHARES U.S. Shareholders As used herein, the term "U.S. Shareholder" means a holder of Common Shares or Preferred Shares ("Shares") who (for United States Federal income tax purposes) is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, or (iii) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source. As long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, distributions made by the Company out of its current or accumulated earnings and profits (and not designated as capital gain dividends) will constitute dividends taxable to its taxable U.S. Shareholders as ordinary income. Such distributions will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of U.S. Shareholders that are corporations. Distributions made by 35 38 the Company that are properly designated by the Company as capital gain dividends will be taxable to U.S. Shareholders as long-term capital gains (to the extent that they do not exceed the Company's actual net capital gain for the taxable year) without regard to the period for which a U.S. Shareholder has held his shares. U.S. Shareholders that are corporations may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income. To the extent that the Company makes distributions (not designated as capital gain dividends) in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits, such distributions will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to each U.S. Shareholder, reducing the adjusted basis which such U.S. Shareholder has in his Shares for tax purposes by the amount of such distribution (but not below zero), with distributions in excess of a U.S. Shareholder's adjusted basis in his shares taxable as capital gains (provided that the Shares have been held as a capital asset). For purposes of determining the portion of distributions on separate classes of Shares that will be treated as dividends for Federal income tax purposes, current and accumulated earnings and profits will be allocated to distributions resulting from priority rights of Preferred Shares before being allocated to other distributions. Dividends authorized by the Company in October, November, or December of any year and payable to a shareholder of record on a specified date in any such month shall be treated as both paid by the Company and received by the shareholder on December 31 of such year, provided that the dividend is actually paid by the Company on or before January 31 of the following calendar year. Shareholders may not include in their own income tax returns any net operating losses or capital losses of the Company. Distributions made by the Company and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. Shareholder of Shares will not be treated as passive activity income, and, as a result, U.S. Shareholders generally will not be able to apply any "passive losses" against such income or gain. Distributions made by the Company (to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital or capital gain dividends) generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest deduction limitation. Gain arising from the sale or other disposition of Shares, however, will not be treated as investment income unless the U.S. Shareholder elects to reduce the amount of his total net capital gain eligible for the 28% maximum capital gains rate applicable to individuals by the amount of such gain with respect to the Shares. Upon any sale or other disposition of Shares, a U.S. Shareholder will recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on such sale or other disposition, and (ii) the holder's adjusted basis in the Shares for tax purposes. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held by the U.S. Shareholder as a capital asset, and will be long-term gain or loss if such Shares have been held for more than one year. In general, any loss recognized by a U.S. Shareholder upon the sale or other disposition of shares of the Company that have been held for six months or less (after applying certain holding period rules) will be treated as a long-term capital loss, to the extent of distributions received by such U.S. Shareholder from the Company which were required to be treated as long-term capital gains. Backup Withholding. The Company will report to its U.S. Shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding at the rate of 31% with respect to dividends paid unless such holder (a) is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or (b) provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A U.S. Shareholder that does not provide the Company with his correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the shareholder's income tax liability. In addition, the Company may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to the Company. 36 39 Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders. The IRS has ruled that amounts distributed as dividends by a REIT generally do not constitute unrelated business taxable income ("UBTI") when received by a tax-exempt entity. Based on that ruling, provided that a tax-exempt shareholder (except certain tax-exempt shareholders described below) has not held its Shares as "debt financed property" within the meaning of the Code and such Shares are not otherwise used in a trade or business, the dividend income from Shares will not be UBTI to a tax-exempt shareholder. Similarly, income from the sale of Shares will not constitute UBTI unless such tax-exempt shareholder has held such Shares as "debt financed property" within the meaning of the Code or has used the Shares in a trade or business. For tax-exempt shareholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans exempt from Federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17), and (c)(20) of the Code, respectively, income from an investment in the Company's Shares will constitute UBTI unless the organization is able to properly deduct amounts set aside or placed in reserve for certain purposes so as to offset the income generated by its Shares. Such prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning these "set aside" and reserve requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a "pension-held REIT" will be treated as UBTI to any trust which (i) is described in Section 401(a) of the Code, (ii) is tax exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code, and (iii) holds more than 10% (by value) of the equity interests in the REIT. Tax-exempt pension, profit-sharing and stock bonus funds that are described in Section 401(a) of the Code are referred to below as "qualified trusts". A REIT is a "pension-held REIT" if (i) it would not have qualified as a REIT but for the fact that Section 856(h)(3) of the Code provides that stock owned by qualified trusts shall be treated, for purposes of the "not closely held" requirement, as owned by the beneficiaries of the trust (rather than by the trust itself) and (ii) either (A) at least one qualified trust holds more than 25% (by value) of the interests in the REIT or (B) one or more qualified trusts, each of which owns more than 10% (by value) of the interests in the REIT, hold in the aggregate more than 50% (by value) of the interests in the REIT. The percentage of any REIT dividend treated as UBTI is equal to the ratio of (i) the gross income (less direct expenses related thereto) of the REIT from unrelated trades or businesses (determined as though the REIT were a qualified trust) to (ii) the total gross income (less direct expenses related thereto) of the REIT. A de minimis exception applies where this percentage is less than 5% for any year. The Company does not expect to be classified as a "pension-held REIT". Non-U.S. Shareholders The rules governing U.S. Federal income taxation of nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign shareholders (collectively, "Non-U.S. Shareholders") are complex and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a limited summary of such rules. Prospective Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. Federal, state and local income tax laws with regard to an investment in Shares, including any reporting requirements. Ordinary Dividends. Distributions, other than distributions that are treated as attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by the Company of U.S. real property interests (discussed below) and other than distributions designated by the Company as capital gain dividends, will be treated as ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Company. Such distributions to Non-U.S. Shareholders will ordinarily be subject to a withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution, unless an applicable tax treaty reduces that tax. However, if income from the investment in the Shares is treated as effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Shareholder's conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the Non-U.S. Shareholder generally will be subject to tax at graduated rates in the same manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to such dividends (and may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax if the shareholder is a foreign corporation). The Company expects to withhold U.S. tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any dividends, other than dividends treated as 37 40 attributable to gain from sales or exchanges of U.S. real property interests and capital gain dividends, paid to a Non-U.S. Shareholder, unless (i) a lower treaty rate applies and the required form evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate is filed with the Company or the appropriate withholding agent or (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder files an IRS Form 4224 (or a successor form) with the Company or the appropriate withholding agent claiming that the distributions are "effectively connected" income. Distributions to a Non-U.S. Shareholder that are designated by the Company at the time of distribution as capital gain dividends which are not attributable to or treated as attributable to the disposition by the Company of a U.S. real property interest generally will not be subject to U.S. Federal income taxation, except as described below. Return of Capital. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits of the Company, which are not treated as attributable to the gain from disposition by the Company of a U.S. real property interest, will not be taxable to a Non-U.S. Shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the Non-U.S. Shareholder's Shares, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such Shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a Non-U.S. Shareholder's Shares, they will give rise to tax liability if the Non-U.S. Shareholder otherwise would be subject to tax on any gain from the sale or disposition of its Shares, as described below. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution is made whether such distribution will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. However, the Non-U.S. Shareholder may seek a refund of such amounts from the IRS if it is subsequently determined that such distribution was, in fact, in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits of the Company. Capital Gain Dividends. For any year in which the Company qualifies as a REIT, distributions that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by the Company of U.S. real property interests will be taxed to a Non-U.S. Shareholder under the provisions of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, as amended ("FIRPTA"). Under FIRPTA, these distributions are taxed to a Non-U.S. Shareholder as if such gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business. Thus, Non-U.S. Shareholders will be taxed on such distributions at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. Shareholders (subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals). The Company is required by applicable Treasury Regulations under FIRPTA to withhold 35% of any distribution that could be designated by the Company as a capital gain dividend. However, if the Company designates as a capital gain dividend a distribution made prior to the day the Company actually effects such designation, then (although such distribution may be taxable to a Non-U.S. Shareholder) such distribution is not subject to withholding under FIRPTA; rather, the Company must effect the 35% FIRPTA withholding from distributions made on and after the date of such designation, until the distributions so withheld equal the amount of the prior distribution designated as a capital gain dividend. The amount withheld is creditable against the Non-U.S. Shareholder's U.S. tax liability. Sales of Shares. Gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Shareholder upon a sale or exchange of Common Shares generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA if the Company is a "domestically controlled REIT," defined generally as a REIT in respect of which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value of the stock is and was held directly or indirectly by foreign persons. It is currently anticipated that the Company will continue to be a "domestically controlled REIT," and, therefore, that the sale of Shares will not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. However, gain not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a Non-U.S. Shareholder if (i) investment in the Shares is treated as "effectively connected" with the Non-U.S. Shareholder's U.S. trade or business, in which case the Non-U.S. Shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. Shareholders with respect to such gain, or (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a "tax home" in the United States, or maintains an office or a fixed place of business in the United States to which the gain is attributable, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual's capital gains. A similar rule will apply to capital gain dividends not subject to FIRPTA. If the Company were not a domestically-controlled REIT, a Non-U.S. Shareholder's sale of Shares would be subject to tax under FIRPTA only if the selling Non-U.S. Shareholder owned more than 5% of the 38 41 class of Shares sold at any time during a specified period (generally the shorter of the period that the Non-U.S. Shareholder owned the Shares sold or the five-year period ending on the date of disposition). If the gain on the sale of Shares were to be subject to tax under FIRPTA, the Non-U.S. Shareholder would be subject to the same treatment as U.S. Shareholders with respect to such gain (subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals) and the purchaser of such Shares would be required to withhold 10% of the gross purchase price. Proposed Regulations. Pursuant to current Treasury Regulations, dividends paid to an address in a country outside the United States are generally presumed to be paid to a resident of such country for purposes of determining the applicability of withholding discussed above and the applicability of a tax treaty rate. Under the Proposed Regulations, however, a Non-U.S. Shareholder who wishes to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate would be required to satisfy applicable certification requirements. In addition, under the Proposed Regulations, in the case of Shares held by a foreign partnership, (x) the certification requirement would generally be applied to the partners in the partnership and (y) the partnership would be required to provide certain information, including a United States taxpayer identification number. The Proposed Regulations provide look-through rules in the case of tiered partnerships. It is not certain whether, or in what form, the Proposed Regulations will be adopted. OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES The Company and its shareholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which it or they transact business or reside. The state and local tax treatment of the Company and its shareholders may not conform to the Federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in the Company. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Company and the Operating Partnership may sell the Securities to one or more underwriters for public offering and sale by them or may sell the Securities to investors directly or through agents. The Company's Common Shares being registered hereby may be issued in connection with the exchange of the Debt Securities of the Operating Partnership. Any such underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the Securities will be named in the related Prospectus Supplement. The Company and the Operating Partnership have reserved the right to sell the Securities directly to investors on their own behalf in those jurisdictions where it is authorized to do so. Underwriters may offer and sell the Securities at a fixed price or prices that may be changed or at negotiated prices. The Company and the Operating Partnership also may, from time to time, authorize dealers, acting as the Company's or the Operating Partnership's agents, to offer and sell the Securities upon such terms and conditions as set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. In connection with the sale of the Securities, underwriters may receive compensation from the Company or the Operating Partnership in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the Securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions (which may be changed from time to time) from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Any underwriting compensation paid by the Company or the Operating Partnership to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of the Securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the Securities 39 42 may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with the Company or the Operating Partnership, to indemnification against and contribution towards certain civil liabilities, including any liabilities under the Securities Act. If so indicated in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Company or the Operating Partnership will authorize dealers acting as the Company's or the Operating Partnership's agents to solicit agreements by certain institutions to purchase the Securities from the Company or the Operating Partnership at the public offering price set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts ("Contracts") providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in a Prospectus Supplement. Each Contract will be for an amount specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Institutions, with whom Contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to the approval of the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that (i) the purchase by an institution of the Securities covered by Contracts will not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject and (ii) if the Securities are being sold to Underwriters, the Company or the Operating Partnership shall have sold to such Underwriters such amount specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Any Securities issued hereunder (other than Common Shares and Series A Preferred Shares) will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters or agents to or through whom such Securities are sold by the Company or the Operating Partnership for public offering and sale may make a market in such Securities, but such underwriters or agents will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any such Securities. Certain of the underwriters, dealers or agents and their associates may engage in transactions with, and perform services for, the Company, the Operating Partnership and certain of their affiliates in the ordinary course of business. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements and the related consolidated financial statement schedules incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The financial statements of 866 U.N. Plaza Associates LLC; the combined financial statements of M Eleven Associates, M393 Associates and Eleven Penn Plaza Company; the financial statements of Two Penn Plaza Associates L.P.; the financial statements of 1740 Broadway Associates, L.P.; and the financial statements of B&B Park Avenue L.P., all incorporated herein by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 12, 1997, as amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A, dated March 12, 1997, have been audited by Friedman Alpren & Green LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports which are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The financial statements of Two Park Company, a New York general partnership, incorporated herein by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 12, 1997, as amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A, dated March 12, 1997, have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. 40 43 VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES The validity of any Debt Securities or Debt Warrants issued hereunder will be passed upon for the Operating Partnership by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York, counsel to the Company and the Operating Partnership, and the validity of any Preferred Shares, Depositary Shares or Common Shares issued hereunder will be passed upon for the Company by Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Baltimore, Maryland, counsel to the Company. The validity of any Securities issued hereunder will be passed upon for any underwriters by the counsel named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. 41 44 PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION. The estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than Underwriting Compensation, are as follows: SEC registration fee............................................. $489,090.91 Printing and engraving expenses.................................. $ * Legal fees and disbursements..................................... $ * Accounting fees and disbursements................................ $ * Transfer Agent's, Depositary's and Trustee's fees and disbursements............................................. $ * Blue Sky fees and expenses....................................... $ * Miscellaneous (including listing and rating agency fees)........................................... $ * Total............................................................ $ * ============
- -------------------------- * Estimated. ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. Under Maryland law, a real estate investment trust formed in Maryland is permitted to eliminate, by provision in its declaration of trust, the liability of its trustees and officers to the trust and its shareholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (i) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (ii) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. The Company's Declaration of Trust includes such a provision eliminating such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. The Company's Bylaws require it to indemnify (a) any present or former trustee or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a proceeding to which he was made a party by reason of such status, against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding, (b) any trustee or officer who, at the request of the Company, serves or has served another trust, corporation or other entity as a director, officer, partner, or trustee and (c) any present or former trustee or officer against any claim or liability to which he may become subject by reason of such status unless it is established that (i) his act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) he actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his act or omission was unlawful. In addition, the Company's Bylaws require it to pay or reimburse, in advance of final disposition of a proceeding, reasonable expenses incurred by a present or former trustee or officer made a party to a proceeding by reason of such status provided that the Company shall have received (i) a written affirmation by the trustee or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the applicable standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company as authorized by the Bylaws and (ii) a written undertaking by or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Company if it shall ultimately be determined that the applicable standard of conduct was not met. The Company's Bylaws also (i) permit the Company to provide indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses to a present or former trustee or officer who served a predecessor of the Company in such capacity and to any employee or agent of the Company or a predecessor of the Company, (ii) provide that any indemnification or payment or reimbursement of the expenses permitted by the Bylaws shall be II-1 45 furnished in accordance with the procedures provided for indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses, as the case may be, under Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL") for directors of Maryland corporations and (iii) permit the Company to provide such other and further indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses as may be permitted by the MGCL, as in effect from time to time, for directors of Maryland corporations. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to trustees and officers of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Company has been advised that, although the validity and scope of the governing statute has not been tested in court, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In addition, indemnification may be limited by state securities laws. The First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of April 15, 1997 (the "Partnership Agreement"), of the Operating Partnership provides, generally, for the indemnification of an "indemnitee" against losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and other legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts that relate to the operations of the Operating Partnership unless it is established that (i) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material and either was committed in bad faith or pursuant to active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. For this purpose, the term "Indemnitee" includes (i) any person made a party to a proceeding by reason of its status as (A) the general partner of the Operating Partnership, (B) a limited partner of the Operating Partnership or (C) an officer of the Operating Partnership or a trustee, officer or shareholder of the Company and (ii) such other persons (including affiliates of the Company or the Operating Partnership) as the Company may designate from time to time in its discretion. Any such indemnification will be made only out of assets of the Operating Partnership, and in no event may an Indemnitee subject the limited partners of the Operating Partnership to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions in the Partnership Agreement. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Operating Partnership has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy and, therefore, unenforceable. The Operating Partnership has purchased liability insurance for the purpose of providing a source of funds to pay the indemnification described above. II-2 46 ITEM 16. EXHIBITS. EXHIBIT NO. EXHIBIT ----------- ------- 1.1* Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Common Shares) 1.2* Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Preferred Shares) 1.3* Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Debt Securities) 3.1 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Company, amended April 3, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333- ), filed on June 12, 1997) 3.2 By-laws of the Company, as amended on April 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1997 (File No. 001-11954) filed on May 14, 1997) 3.3 First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of April 15, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Report on Form 10, filed on June 12, 1997) 4.1 Specimen certificate representing the Company's Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $0.04 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-62395), filed on October 26, 1995) 4.2 Specimen certificate representing the Company's $3.25 Series A Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, liquidation preference $50.00 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 3, 1997 (File No. 001-11954), filed on April 8, 1997) 4.3 Articles Supplementary Classifying the Company's $3.25 Series A Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, liquidation preference $50.00 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 3, 1997 (File No. 001-11954), filed on April 8, 1997) 4.4* Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities 4.5* Form of Senior Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.4) 4.6* Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities 4.7* Form of Subordinated Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.6) 4.8 Form of Deposit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-52441), filed on May 12, 1994) 4.9 Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.8) 5.1* Opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll 5.2* Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell 8.1* Tax Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell - -------------------------- * To be filed by amendment or 8-K. II-3 47 12* Statement Regarding Computation of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Share Dividend Requirements 23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP 23.2 Consents of Friedman Alpren & Green LLP 23.3 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP 23.4* Consent of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1) 23.5* Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.2) 24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on signature page) 25.1* Statement of Eligibility of Senior Trustee on Form T-1 25.2* Statement of Eligibility of Subordinated Trustee on Form T-1 - --------------------------- * To be filed by amendment or 8-K. ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS. (a) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement; (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement. (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to II-4 48 the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (b) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise (other than insurance), the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than insurance payments and the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. OTHER The Operating Partnership hereby states that it reasonably believes that the Debt Securities being registered hereunder will be "investment grade securities" (as defined in General Instruction I.B.2. of Form S-3) by the time of sale of such securities. II-5 49 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrants certify that they have reasonable grounds to believe that they meet all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and have duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Saddle Brook and State of New Jersey, on June 11, 1997. VORNADO REALTY TRUST, a Maryland real estate investment trust By: /s/ Steven Roth --------------------------------- Steven Roth Chairman of the Board of Trustees (Principal Executive Officer) VORNADO REALTY L.P., a Delaware limited partnership By: Vornado Realty Trust Its: General Partner By: /s/ Steven Roth --------------------------------- Steven Roth Chairman of the Board of Trustees (Principal Executive Officer) 50 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Steven Roth, Michael D. Fascitelli and Joseph Macnow, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated. Each person listed below has signed this Registration Statement (i) in their capacity as an officer or trustee of Vornado Realty Trust (the "Company"), on behalf of the Company and (ii) as an officer or trustee of the Company, in its capacity as general partner of Vornado Realty L.P.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE --------- ----- ---- /s/ Steven Roth - ---------------------------- Chairman of the Board of Trustees June 11, 1997 Steven Roth (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ Michael D. Fascitelli - ---------------------------- President and Trustee June 11, 1997 Michael D. Fascitelli /s/ Bernard H. Mendik Co-Chairman of the Board of - ---------------------------- Trustees and Chief Executive June 11, 1997 Bernard H. Mendik Officer of the Mendik Division /s/ Joseph Macnow Vice President - Chief Financial - ---------------------------- Officer and Controller (Principal June 11, 1997 Joseph Macnow Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/ David Mandelbaum - ---------------------------- David Mandelbaum Trustee June 11, 1997 /s/ Stanley Simon - ---------------------------- Stanley Simon Trustee June 11, 1997 /s/ Richard R. West - ---------------------------- Richard R. West Trustee June 11, 1997 /s/ Ronald G. Targan - ---------------------------- Ronald G. Targan Trustee June 11, 1997 /s/ Russell B. Wight, Jr. - ---------------------------- Russell B. Wight, Jr. Trustee June 11, 1997
51 EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NO. EXHIBIT ----------- ------- 1.1* Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Common Shares) 1.2* Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Preferred Shares) 1.3* Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Debt Securities) 3.1 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Company, amended April 3, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333- ), filed on June 12, 1997) 3.2 By-laws of the Company, as amended on April 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1997 (File No. 001-11954) filed on May 14, 1997) 3.3 First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of April 15, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Report on Form 10, filed on June 12, 1997) 4.1 Specimen certificate representing the Company's Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $0.04 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-62395), filed on October 26, 1995) 4.2 Specimen certificate representing the Company's $3.25 Series A Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, liquidation preference $50.00 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 3, 1997 (File No. 001-11954), filed on April 8, 1997) 4.3 Articles Supplementary Classifying the Company's $3.25 Series A Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, liquidation preference $50.00 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 3, 1997 (File No. 001-11954), filed on April 8, 1997) 4.4* Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities 4.5* Form of Senior Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.4) 4.6* Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities 4.7* Form of Subordinated Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.6) 4.8 Form of Deposit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-52441), filed on May 12, 1994) 4.9 Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.8) 5.1* Opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll 5.2* Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell 8.1* Tax Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell 12* Statement Regarding Computation of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Share Dividend Requirements 23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP - ------------------------- * To be filed by amendment or 8-K. 52 23.2 Consents of Friedman Alpren & Green LLP 23.3 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP 23.4* Consent of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1) 23.5* Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.2) 24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on signature page) 25.1* Statement of Eligibility of Senior Trustee on Form T-1 25.2* Statement of Eligibility of Subordinated Trustee on Form T-1 - --------------------------- * To be filed by amendment or 8-K. EX-23.1 2 CONSENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP 1 EXHIBIT 23.1 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Vornado Realty Trust and Vornado Realty L.P. and the Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement No. 33-62395 of Vornado Realty Trust, both on Form S-3, of our report dated March 12, 1997, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Vornado Realty Trust for the year ended December 31, 1996 and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus which is part of this Registration Statement. DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Parsippany, New Jersey June 11, 1997 EX-23.2 3 CONSENT OF FRIEDMAN ALPREN & GREEN LLP 1 EXHIBIT 23.2 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF 866 U.N. PLAZA ASSOCIATES LLC We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Vornado Realty Trust and Vornado Realty L.P. of our report dated January 15, 1997, except for Note 2, as to which the date is March 12, 1997, on the balance sheet of 866 U.N. Plaza Associates LLC (formerly 866 U.N. Plaza Associates), as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' capital and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which report appears in the Form 8-K of Vornado Realty Trust, dated March 12, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K/A, dated March 12, 1997, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus which is part of this Registration Statement. Friedman Alpren & Green LLP New York, New York June 11, 1997 2 EXHIBIT 23.2 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE PARTNERS OF TWO PENN PLAZA ASSOCIATES L.P. We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Vornado Realty Trust and Vornado Realty L.P. of our report dated January 15, 1997, except for Note 2, as to which the date is March 12, 1997, on the balance sheet of Two Penn Plaza Associates L.P., as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' capital and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which report appears in the Form 8-K of Vornado Realty Trust, dated March 12, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K/A of Vornado Realty Trust, dated March 12, 1997, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus which is part of this Registration Statement. Friedman Alpren & Green LLP New York, New York June 11, 1997 3 EXHIBIT 23.2 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE PARTNERS OF B&B PARK AVENUE L.P. We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Vornado Realty Trust and Vornado Realty L.P. of our report dated January 15, 1997, except for Note 2, as to which the date is March 12, 1997, on the balance sheet of B&B Park Avenue L.P., as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' capital and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which report appears in the Form 8-K of Vornado Realty Trust, dated March 12, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K/A of Vornado Realty Trust, dated March 12, 1997, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus which is part of this Registration Statement. Friedman Alpren & Green LLP New York, New York June 11, 1997 4 EXHIBIT 23.2 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE PARTNERS OF M ELEVEN ASSOCIATES, M 393 ASSOCIATES AND ELEVEN PENN PLAZA COMPANY We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Vornado Realty Trust and Vornado Realty L.P. of our report dated January 14, 1997, except for Note 2, as to which the date is March 12, 1997, on the balance sheet of M Eleven Associates, M 393 Associates and Eleven Penn Plaza Company, as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' capital and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which report appears in the Form 8-K of Vornado Realty Trust, dated March 12, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K/A of Vornado Realty Trust, dated March 12, 1997, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus which is part of this Registration Statement. Friedman Alpren & Green LLP New York, New York June 11, 1997 5 EXHIBIT 23.2 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE PARTNERS OF 1740 BROADWAY ASSOCIATES, L.P. We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Vornado Realty Trust and Vornado Realty L.P. of our report dated January 16, 1997, except for Note 2, as to which the date is March 12, 1997, on the balance sheet of 1740 Broadway Associates, L.P., as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' capital and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which report appears in the Form 8-K of Vornado Realty Trust, dated March 12, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K/A of Vornado Realty Trust, dated March 12, 1997, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus which is part of this Registration Statement. Friedman Alpren & Green LLP New York, New York June 11, 1997 EX-23.3 4 CONSENT OF KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP 1 EXHIBIT 23.3 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Partners Two Park Company: We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form S-3 of Vornado Realty Trust and Vornado Realty L.P. of our report dated March 14, 1997, with respect to the balance sheets of Two Park Company, a New York general partnership, as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' capital and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which report appears in the Form 8-K of Vornado Realty Trust dated March 12, 1997 as amended by Form 8-K/A dated March 12, 1997, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Boston, Massachusetts June 11, 1997 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----